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The jump is one of the common stereotyped behavior in rodents which can be found in certain types of disease models, such as addiction. It can be easily identified by the human eye. However, it is difficult to be tagged in real-time by manual operation, which limits the detailed exploration of its neural mechanisms with the new techniques, such as fiber photometry recording. Here we introduced an auto real-time jump tagging system (Art-JT system) to record the jump based on online monitoring the pressure changes of the floor in which the mouse is free exploring. Meanwhile, the Art-JT system can send the digital signal of the jump timing to the external device for tagging the events in the fiber photometry system. We tested it with the mice induced by Naloxone precipitated withdrawal jumping and found that it could accurately record the jump events and provide several detailed parameters of the jump. We also confirmed that the jump was correlated with the medial prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex neuronal activities by combining the Art-JT system, GCaMP6 mice, and fiber photometry system. Our results suggested that the Art-JT system may be a powerful tool for recording and analyzing jumps efficiently and helping us to understand stereotyped behavior.

Implicit math = male stereotypes have been found in early childhood and are linked to girls’ disproportionate disengagement from math-related activities and later careers. Yet, little is known about how malleable children’s automatic stereotypes are, especially in response to brief interventions. In a sample of 336 six- to eleven-year-olds, we experimentally tested whether exposure to a brief story vignette intervention with either stereotypical, neutral, or counter-stereotypical content (three conditions: math = boy vs. neutral vs. math = girl) could change implicit math-gender stereotypes. Results suggested that children’s implicit math = male stereotypes were indeed responsive to brief stories that either reinforced or countered the widespread math = male stereotype. Children exposed to the counter-stereotypical stories showed significantly lower (and non-significant) stereotypes compared to children exposed to the stereotypical stories. Critically, exposure to stories that perpetuated math = male stereotypes significantly increased math-gender stereotypes over and above baseline, underscoring that implicit gender biases that are readily formed during this period in childhood and even brief exposure to stereotypical content can strengthen them. As a secondary question, we also examined whether changes in stereotypes might also lead to changes in implicit math self-concept. Evidence for effects on implicit self-concept were not statistically significant.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in both communication and social interaction, besides repetitive or stereotyped behavior. Although the etiology is unknown, environmental factors such as valproic acid (VPA) increase the risk of ASD onset. Resveratrol (RSV), a neuroprotective molecule, has been shown to counteract the effects of intrauterine exposure to VPA. We aimed to evaluate histological parameters related to hippocampal morphology and to the distribution of parvalbumin- (PV), calbindin- (CB), and somatostatin-positive (SOM) interneurons sub-populations, in addition to evaluate the total/phosphorylation levels of PTEN, AKT, GSK3β and total CK2 in the animal model of autism induced by VPA, as well as addressing the potential protective effect of RSV. On postnatal day 120, histological analysis showed a loss in total neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) and decreased CB+ neurons in DG and CA1 in VPA animals, both prevented by RSV. In addition, PV+ neurons were diminished in CA1, CA2, and CA3, and SOM were interestingly increased in DG (prevented by RSV) and decreased in CA1 and CA2. A hippocampal lesion similar to sclerosis was also observed in the samples from the VPA group. Besides that, VPA reduced AKT and PTEN immunocontent, and VPA increased CK2 immunocontent. Thus, this work demonstrated long-term effects of prenatal exposure to ASD in different sub-populations of interneurons, structural damage of hippocampus, and also alteration in proteins associated with pivotal cell signaling pathways, highlighting the role of RSV as a tool for understanding the pathophysiology of ASD. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.]

Princess culture is criticized for contributing to gender stereotypes and poor body esteem, however, there is little longitudinal research examining these claims. This study examines associations between engagement with princess culture during early childhood and gender stereotypes, body esteem, and adherence to hegemonic masculinity in early adolescence. Participants included 307 children (51% female, Mage = 4.83 years, 87% White) who completed questionnaires at two time points, 5 years apart. The results indicated that early engagement with princess culture was not associated with later adherence to female gender stereotypes. However, princess engagement was associated with lower adherence to norms of hegemonic masculinity and higher body esteem. Socioeconomic status and gender moderated the results. Effect sizes were small to moderate. The changing nature of Disney princesses is discussed in the context of gender development across childhood.

Methamphetamine (MA) is a psychostimulant and addictive substance. Long-term uses and toxic high doses of MA can induce neurotoxicity. The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of melatonin against MA toxicity-induced dysregulation of the neurotransmission related to cognitive function in rats. The adult male Sprague Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg/kg MA for 7 consecutive days with or without subcutaneously injected with 10 mg/kg melatonin before MA injection. Some rats were injected with saline solution (control) or 10 mg/kg melatonin. MA administration induced reduction in total weight gain, neurotoxic features of stereotyped behaviors, deficits in cognitive flexibility, and significantly increased lipid peroxidation in the brain which diminished in melatonin pretreatment. The neurotoxic effect of MA on glutamate, dopamine and GABA transmitters was represented by the alteration of the GluR1, DARPP-32 and parvalbumin (PV) levels, respectively. A significant decrease in the GluR1 was observed in the prefrontal cortex of MA administration in rats. MA administration significantly increased the DARPP-32 but decreased PV in the striatum. Pretreatment of melatonin can abolish the neurotoxic effect of MA on neurotransmission dysregulation. These findings might reveal the antioxidative role of melatonin to restore neurotransmission dysregulation related to cognitive deficits in MA-induced neurotoxicity.

The human brain matures into a complex structure, and to reach its complete development, connections must occur along exact paths. If at any stage, the processes are altered, interrupted, or inhibited, the consequences can be permanent. Dopaminergic signaling participates in the control of physiological functions and behavioral processes, and alterations in this signaling pathway are related to the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders. For this reason, the use of pharmacological agents able to interact with the dopaminergic signaling may elucidate the biological bases of such disorders. We investigated the long-lasting behavioral effects on adult zebrafish after quinpirole (a dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist) exposure during early life stages of development (24 h exposure at 5 days post-fertilization, dpf) to better understand the mechanisms underlying neurological disorders related to the dopaminergic system. Quinpirole exposure at the early life stages of zebrafish led to late behavioral alterations. When evaluated at 120 dpf, zebrafish presented increased anxiety-like behaviors. At the open tank test, fish remained longer at the bottom of the tank, indicating anxiety-like behavior. Furthermore, quinpirole-treated fish exhibited increased absolute turn angle, likely an indication of elevated erratic movements and a sign of increased fear or anxiety. Quinpirole-treated fish also showed altered swimming patterns, characterized by stereotypic swimming. During the open tank test, exposed zebrafish swims from corner to corner in a repetitive manner at the bottom of the tank. Moreover, quinpirole exposure led to memory impairment compared to control fish. However, quinpirole administration had no effects on social and aggressive behavior. These findings demonstrate that dopaminergic signaling altered by quinpirole administration in the early life stages of development led to late alterations in behavioral parameters of adult zebrafish.

Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might be associated with oxidative stress, and antioxidants are commonly used in the treatment of young people with ASD. However, the evidence about the effectiveness of these interventions remains debatable. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of antioxidants on the symptoms of patients with autism. Methods Data sources: PubMed and Web of Science databases. Study selection: We selected placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trials published until February 2021 to evaluate the efficacy of antioxidant interventions on ASD. Data analysis: Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC) and Clinical Global Impressions Severity scale (CGI S) were used to evaluate the 22 different symptom outcomes. The Hedges-adjusted g value was used to estimate the effect of each dietary intervention relative to the placebo. Results In this meta-analysis, we examined 13 double-blind randomized clinical trials, comprising a total of 570 patients with ASD: 293 in the intervention group and 277 in the placebo group. Antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine (NAC), other antioxidants) are more effective than placebos in improving the irritability among symptoms in the ABC and communication disturbance symptoms in the DBC. There was a good trend of improvement in the stereotypic behavior symptoms in the ABC. Treatment with NAC antioxidants showed a good trend of improvement in irritability in the ABC and symptoms of hyperactivity. The effect size was small, and there was a low risk of statistical heterogeneity and publication bias. Limitations: The number of studies in this meta-analysis was small and the sample size was small. Conclusion This meta-analysis suggests that antioxidant intervention has a potential role in the management of some symptoms in patients with ASD, and indicates the feasibility of using antioxidants to treat autism in the future.

Very few people are able to quit smoking, and therefore it is essential to know which factors contribute to the development of compulsive nicotine use. These studies aimed to investigate if early-adolescent nicotine exposure causes locomotor sensitization and affects anxiety-like behavior and the spontaneous acquisition of intravenous nicotine self-administration. Early-adolescent male and female rats were treated with nicotine from postnatal (P) days 24 to 42, and anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity were investigated one day after the cessation of nicotine treatment and in adulthood (>P75). The spontaneous acquisition of nicotine self-administration was also investigated in adulthood. The rats self-administered 0.03 mg/kg/infusion of nicotine for six days under a fixed-ratio (FR) 1 schedule and four days under an FR2 schedule (3-h sessions). Repeated nicotine administration increased locomotor activity, rearing, and stereotypies in a small open field in adolescent male and female rats. One day after the last nicotine injection, the percentage of open arm entries in the elevated plus-maze test was decreased in the males and increased in the females. However, locomotor activity in the small open field was unaffected. Adolescent nicotine treatment did not affect anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity in adulthood. During the 10-day nicotine self-administration period, the females had a higher level of nicotine intake than the males. Adolescent nicotine treatment decreased nicotine intake in the females. In conclusion, these findings indicate that repeated nicotine administration during adolescence causes robust behavioral sensitization and leads to lower nicotine intake in females throughout the acquisition period in adulthood in rats.

Recent studies suggest that the cerebellum may have a significant role in repetitive behaviors. In primary complex motor stereotypies, typically developing children have repetitive movements usually involving rhythmic flapping/waving arm/hand movements. Similarly, the deer mouse animal model exhibits inherited repetitive behaviors, with increased frequencies of spontaneous jumping and rearing. In this study, data from both children with motor stereotypies and deer mice were used to investigate the role of the cerebellum in repetitive behaviors. The 3.0-T MRI volumetric imaging of the cerebellum was obtained in 20 children with primary complex motor stereotypies and 20 healthy controls. In deer mice, cerebellar volume (n = 7/group) and cell counts (n = 9/group) were compared between high- and low-activity animals. Levels of cerebellar neurotransmitters were also determined via HPLC (n = 10/group). In children with stereotypies, (a) there were a statistically significant reduction (compared to controls) in the white matter volume of the posterior cerebellar lobule VI-VII that negatively correlated with motor control and (b) an 8% increase in the anterior vermis gray matter that positively correlated with motor Stereotypy Severity Scores (SSS). In deer mice, (a) there was a significant increase in the volume of the anterior vermal granular cell layer that was associated with higher activity and (b) dentate nucleus cell counts were higher in high activity animals. Similar increases in volume were observed in anterior vermis in children with stereotypies and a deer mouse model of repetitive behaviors. These preliminary findings support the need for further investigation of the cerebellum in repetitive behaviors.

Researchers believe that the development and prevalence of abnormal behaviors in horses may be caused by several environmental and biological factors, and the literature offers numerous reports that discuss the causes and effects of stereotypies in these animals. In this light, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the scientific literature, summarizing the main risk factors associated with the development of abnormal behaviors in horses. The searches were conducted over the course of four years in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. The publications reviewed were full text research thesis or articles that addressed issues within the following criteria: (1) presentation of epidemiological information on the studied population; (2) prevalence of abnormal behaviors in equine populations; (3) factors associated with the development or prevalence of stereotypies. Data were extracted from each study and inserted into an Excel spreadsheet to be analyzed through descriptive statistics. In addition, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to verify the existence of significant differences between the methodologies (direct observation/questionnaires). The dataset was also analyzed through data mining to identify the main factors that influence the prevalence of abnormal behaviors in the studied population. The results showed a great variation in the mean prevalence of abnormal behaviors, with no significant difference between research conducted through questionnaires or direct observation, and the data mining technique identified that incorrect nutritional management may be the main factor influencing the development and prevalence of abnormal behaviors in horses.

Studies have reported that physical exercise reduces maladaptive stereotyped motor behaviours (SMB) in children with ASD, but these intervention studies vary in design and outcome. The present systematic review and meta-analysis included 22 studies, involving 274 children with ASD, to quantify the effect of exercise on SMB and its potential moderators. Multi-level modelling revealed a large overall effect, Hedges' g = 1.16, with significant heterogeneity across participant, treatment, and study levels. Further, a more appropriate model using between-case estimation for within-subject effects to improve comparability between single-case and group-design studies, yielded a smaller but still significant effect, g = 0.51. Lastly, higher exercise intensity, but not age, exercise duration or settings, reliably predicted treatment effectiveness. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.

Catatonia is a severe clinical syndrome which has been increasingly reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The prevalence of catatonia in ASD is unknown. Diagnosing catatonia in ASD is complicated by overlapping clinical features such as mutism, stereotypies, and echophenomena. Here, we present the clinical histories of two individuals with ASD and catatonia who were successfully treated with clozapine. We have reported on a novel potential treatment option for catatonia in ASD. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of clozapine for the treatment of catatonia in ASD.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling condition that often begins in childhood. Genetic studies in OCD have pointed to SLC1A1, which encodes the neuronal glutamate transporter EAAT3, with evidence suggesting that increased expression contributes to risk. In mice, midbrain Slc1a1 expression supports repetitive behavior in response to dopaminergic agonists, aligning with neuroimaging and pharmacologic challenge studies that have implicated the dopaminergic system in OCD. These findings suggest that Slc1a1 may contribute to compulsive behavior through altered dopaminergic transmission; however, this theory has not been mechanistically tested. To examine the developmental impact of Slc1a1 overexpression on compulsive-like behaviors, we, therefore, generated a novel mouse model to perform targeted, reversible overexpression of Slc1a1 in dopaminergic neurons. Mice with life-long overexpression of Slc1a1 showed a significant increase in amphetamine (AMPH)-induced stereotypy and hyperlocomotion. Single-unit recordings demonstrated that Slc1a1 overexpression was associated with increased firing of dopaminergic neurons. Furthermore, dLight1.1 fiber photometry showed that these behavioral abnormalities were associated with increased dorsal striatum dopamine release. In contrast, no impact of overexpression was observed on anxiety-like behaviors or SKF-38393-induced grooming. Importantly, overexpression solely in adulthood failed to recapitulate these behavioral phenotypes, suggesting that overexpression during development is necessary to generate AMPH-induced phenotypes. However, doxycycline-induced reversal of Slc1a1/EAAT3 overexpression in adulthood normalized both the increased dopaminergic firing and AMPH-induced responses. These data indicate that the pathologic effects of Slc1a1/EAAT3 overexpression on dopaminergic neurotransmission and AMPH-induced stereotyped behavior are developmentally mediated, and support normalization of EAAT3 activity as a potential treatment target for basal ganglia-mediated repetitive behaviors.

RATIONALE: There is a renewed interest in the use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for treating psychiatric conditions. Although MDMA has entered phase II clinical trials and shows promise as an adjunct treatment, there is an extensive literature detailing the potential neurotoxicity and adverse neurobehavioral effects associated with MDMA use. Previous research indicates that the adverse effects of MDMA may be due to its metabolism into reactive catechols that can enter the brain and serve directly as neurotoxicants. One approach to mitigate MDMA’s potential for adverse effects is to reduce O-demethylation by deuterating the methylenedioxy ring of MDMA. There are no studies that have evaluated the effects of deuterating MDMA on behavioral outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to assess the motor-stimulant effects of deuterated MDMA (d2-MDMA) and compare them to MDMA in male mice. METHODS: Two experiments were performed to quantify mouse locomotor activity and to vary the drug administration regimen (single bolus administration or cumulative administration). RESULTS: The results of Experiments 1 and 2 indicate that d2-MDMA is less effective at eliciting horizontal locomotion than MDMA, however the differences between the compounds diminish as the number of cumulative administrations increase. Both d2-MDMA and MDMA can elicit sensitized responses and these effects cross-sensitize to the prototypical drug of abuse methamphetamine. Thus, d2-MDMA functions as a locomotor stimulant similar to MDMA, but, depending on the dosing regimen, may be less susceptible to inducing sensitization to stereotyped movements. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that d2-MDMA is behaviorally active and produces locomotor effects that are similar to MDMA, which warrant additional assessments of d2-MDMA’s behavioral and physiological effects to determine the conditions under which this compound may serve as a relatively safer alternative to MDMA for clinical use.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disability that demonstrates impaired social interactions, communication deficits, and restrictive and repetitive behaviors. ASD has a strong genetic basis and many ASD-associated genes have been discovered thus far. Our previous work has shown that loss of expression of the X-linked geneNEXMIF/KIDLIAis implicated in patients with autistic features and intellectual disability (ID). To further determine the causal role of the gene in the disorder, and to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathology, we have generated a NEXMIF knock-out (KO) mouse. We find that male NEXMIF KO mice demonstrate reduced sociability and communication, elevated repetitive grooming behavior, and deficits in learning and memory. Loss ofNEXMIF/KIDLIAexpression results in a significant decrease in synapse density and synaptic protein expression. Consistently, male KO animals show aberrant synaptic function as measured by excitatory miniatures and postsynaptic currents in the hippocampus. These findings indicate that NEXMIF KO mice recapitulate the phenotypes of the human disorder. The NEXMIF KO mouse model will be a valuable tool for studying the complex mechanisms involved in ASD and for the development of novel therapeutics for this disorder.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by behavioral phenotypes. Based on our previous work, which indicated the loss of NEXMIF/KIDLIA was associated with ASD, we generated NEXMIF knock-out (KO) mice. The NEXMIF KO mice demonstrate autism-like behaviors including deficits in social interaction, increased repetitive self-grooming, and impairments in communication and in learning and memory. The KO neurons show reduced synapse density and a suppression in synaptic transmission, indicating a role for NEXMIF in regulating synapse development and function. The NEXMIF KO mouse faithfully recapitulates the human disorder, and thus serves as an animal model for future investigation of the NEXMIF-dependent neurodevelopmental disorders.

Early childhood schizophrenia (COS) is a rare condition and has no established animal model to test new treatments. Previous studies have shown that repeated doses of 25 mg/kg ketamine produce schizophrenia-like changes in adult male Wistar rats, but adequate doses of ketamine in animal COS studies are not yet known. Male and female Wistar rats, 23 days old, received an injection of ketamine or intraperitoneal saline (i.p.) for 8 days. The animals underwent different behavioral tests: open field, social interaction, pre-pulse startle inhibition (PPI). Female rats showed behavioral changes at all ketamine doses (5, 15, 25 and 50 mg/kg), in contrast to males that only at 50 mg/kg dose had interrupted PPI and higher stereotypy in the open field test. The present study demonstrated that ketamine at a dose of 50 mg/kg once daily from 23 to 31 days postnatal reproduced changes similar to schizophrenia in pre-pubertal male and female Wistar rats and could be used, with other interventions, in future studies with animals in COS.

Breast size varies substantially among women and influences perception of the woman by other people with regard to her attractiveness and other characteristics that are important in social contexts, including mating. The theory of sexual selection predicts that physical criteria of partner selection should be markers of the candidate’s desirable properties, mainly biological quality. Few studies, however, have examined whether breast size really signals biological quality or its components and whether observers accurately interpret these signals. Our first study encompassed 163 young women and aimed to establish actual correlates of breast size. The aim of the second study was to determine preferences and stereotypes related to breast size: 252–265 women and men evaluated female digital figures varying in, among other characteristics, breast size. Breast size (breast circumference minus chest circumference) was negatively associated with body asymmetry and positively associated with infections of the respiratory system, but did not correlate with infections of the digestive system, openness to casual sex, and testosterone and estradiol level. Women and men perceived breasts in a similar way to each other: the bigger the breasts the higher the reproductive efficiency, lactational efficiency, sexual desire, and promiscuity attributed to the woman. Nevertheless, large breasts were not regarded more attractive than average ones, though small breasts were the least attractive. In addition, big-breasted women were perceived as less faithful and less intelligent than women with average or small breasts. We discuss our results from the perspectives of evolutionary psychology, perceptual biases, and social stereotypes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10508-019-1464-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Dziewczęta i kobiety ze spektrum autyzmu często pozostają niezdiagnozowane, mają błędne lub zbyt późno postawione rozpoznania, co ma negatywny wpływ na ich rozwój, dobrostan psychiczny, edukację, zatrudnienie oraz samodzielność. Rozpoznanie stanu/zaburzenia ze spektrum autyzmu (zwanego dalej: „autyzmem”) powszechnie przyjęte na podstawie kryteriów diagnostycznych zawartych w międzynarodowych systemach klasyfikacji chorób i zaburzeń psychicznych, w przeważającej większości oparte jest na obserwacji i badaniach płci męskiej. Autorzy używają określenia „stanu ze spektrum autyzmu” (ASC, Autism Spectrum Condition), wprowadzonego przez Simona Barona–Cohena i używanego w profesjonalnej literaturze medycznej już od dekady jako alternatywnej nazwy dla zaburzenia ze spektrum autyzmu (ASD), uwzględniając zastrzeżenia tych osób ze spektrum autyzmu, które uznają określenie „zaburzenie” za stygmatyzujące, podczas gdy nazwa ASC ujmuje zarówno mocne strony, jak i trudności, jakich osoby te doświadczają. Wyniki badań naukowych wskazują na unikalne cechy autyzmu u płci żeńskiej z odmienną, subtelniejszą postacią kliniczną zwłaszcza u wysokofunkcjonujących dziewcząt i kobiet tj. z rozwiniętą mową płynną, przeciętnym lub ponadprzeciętnym ilorazem inteligencji. Wyniki badań wskazują także na stereotypy diagnostyczne oraz niedostateczną czułość dostępnych narzędzi diagnostycznych w wykrywaniu autyzmu u dziewcząt i kobiet, które nie uwzględniają unikalnego żeńskiego fenotypu autyzmu, obejmującego m.in. wysoką zdolność kompensacji, kamuflażu i naśladowania. Dodatkowo autyzm u dziewcząt wiąże się z wysoką współchorobowością w okresie adolescencji, częstym współwystępowaniem zaburzeń lękowych, tikowych i depresji, wysokim wskaźnikiem samobójstw, zaburzeń odżywiania oraz innych problemów zdrowotnych. Odpowiednio wczesne jednak rozpoznanie zmniejsza trudności, jakich dziewczęta i kobiety z autyzmem doświadczają w okresie całego życia, umożliwiając ocenę ich potrzeb w zakresie zdrowotnym, wykształcenia, wypoczynku, relacji społecznych oraz zatrudnienia.

This study explored regression patterns in 100 children with ASD (3-11 years) using several approaches to enhance the validity of retrospective parent report. Both early development and outcome were examined in regression groups defined by 36 months age cut-off and two underlying empirical patterns based on type and onset age. Results over regression groups were generally consistent. During early development, children with regression showed a similar amount of social atypicalities and stereotyped behaviour as compared to children without regression. However, parents indicated less communication skills which could be a valuable predictor of regression. Development after regression was characterised by early language delay and more restricted and repetitive behaviour. The findings provide insight into the diagnosis and prognosis of regression in ASD.

Anxiety is present in high rates in both children and adults on the autism spectrum. An increasing number of studies have highlighted the potentially important role that intolerance of uncertainty may have in anxiety for those on the spectrum, as well as their interrelationships with sensory sensitivities and repetitive behaviours. In response to a lack of studies involving adults, this study examined self-report survey data regarding intolerance of uncertainty, sensory sensitivities, repetitive behaviours and anxiety in a sample of 176 adults on the autism spectrum (mean age = 42). Intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety were both found to be elevated relative to non-autistic adults ( N = 116) and significant, positive correlations were found between intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety, repetitive behaviours and sensory sensitivities in those on the spectrum. Intolerance of uncertainty was found to be a significant mediator between sensory sensitivities and anxiety, as well as between anxiety and insistence on sameness behaviours. These results were not sensitive to age. Intolerance of uncertainty is an important factor to be considered in the conceptualisation and management of elevated rates of anxiety for adults on the autism spectrum.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), previously called autism, is a developmental condition that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. Early symptoms of ASD can easily be overlooked. Clinicians who can recognize the symptoms of ASD can help children get prompt referral to specialists and early intervention, which is key to improving developmental outcomes for children with ASD.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and repetitive/restricted behaviors. Although gene-environment interactions may explain the heterogeneous etiology of ASD, it is still largely unknown how the gene-environment interaction affects behavioral symptoms and pathophysiology in ASD. To address these questions, we used Cntnap2 knockout mice (genetic factor, G) exposed to valproic acid during embryonic development (environmental factor, E) as a gene-environment interaction (G × E) model. Paradoxically, the social deficits observed in the respective G and E models were improved in the G × E model; however, the high seizure susceptibility was more severe in the G × E -model than in the G and E models. Repetitive self-grooming and hyperactivity did not differ among the three models. The amplitudes of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex were aberrant and similar in the G × E model when compared to the control group. Our findings suggest that the interaction of two risk factors does not always aggravate ASD symptoms but can also alleviate them, which may be key to understanding individual differences in behavioral phenotypes and symptom intensity.

The main objective of this paper is to determine whether resting-state fMRI can identify functional connectivity differences between individuals with autism who experience severe issues with restricted, repetitive, and stereotypical behaviors, those who experience only mild issues, and controls. We use resting-state fMRI data from the ABIDE-I preprocessed repository, with participants grouped according to their ADI-R Restricted, Repetitive, and Stereotyped Patterns of Behavior Subscore. Three processing methods are used for analysis. A time-correlation approach establishes a basic baseline, and we introduce a method based on sliding time windows, with means across time adjusted to consider the fraction of time the correlation measure is above/below average. We complement these with a band-limited coherence approach. For completeness, preprocessing schemes with and without global signal regression are considered. Our results are in line with recent ones which find both over- and under-connectivities in the autistic brain. We find that there are indeed significant differences in connectivity between various regions that differentiate between ASD subjects with severe stereotypical/restrictive behavior issues, those with only mild issues, and controls. Interestingly, for some regions, the "signature" of subjects in the milder of the ASD groups appears to be distinct (i.e., over- or under-connected) relative to both the more severe ASD group and the controls.

Due to stigma, eating disorders are under-researched, underdiagnosed and undertreated among men. This is particularly pertinent among athletes, as athletic goals are a major risk factor for disordered eating in men. This gender stereotype may be reinforced by eating disorder risk assessment tools that better reflect female symptoms. We examine an eating disorder risk assessment questionnaire in a population of athletes to assess both (1) gender bias in individual items and (2) gender differences on a cognitive and behavioral subscale, identified through a factor analysis. Controlling for eating disorder risk, we found that female gender significantly predicted high risk scores on four items; male gender significantly predicted high risk scores on four other items. We also found that women were more likely to score above the median on a cognitive subscale than men with the same level of eating disorder risk, while men were more likely to score above the median on a behavioral subscale. These results may be applied practically to allow eating disorder risk assessment tools to better capture eating disorder risk independent of gender. These methods may be applied to other questionnaires and other social identities, to expand the scope of eating disorder research and treatment.

Ketogenic diets (KDs) are high fat, low carbohydrate formulations traditionally used to treat epilepsy; more recently, KDs have shown promise for a wide range of other neurological disorders. Drug addiction studies suggest that repeated exposure to drugs of abuse, including cocaine, results in a suite of neurobiological changes that includes neuroinflammation, decreased glucose metabolism, and disordered neurotransmission. Given that KDs positively regulate these factors, we addressed whether administration of a KD has potential as a novel therapy for drug addiction. In this study, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on a KD or a control diet (CD), beginning at five weeks of age and continuing through the end of behavioral testing. Three weeks after initiation of dietary treatments, rats received daily i.p. injections of cocaine (15 mg/kg) or saline vehicle for one week, were drug free for a subsequent week, and then all animals received a final challenge injection of 15 mg/kg cocaine. In the absence of cocaine injections, stereotyped locomotor responses were minimal and were unaffected by dietary treatment. In contrast, both males and females fed a KD exhibited decreased cocaine-induced stereotyped responses as compared to CD-fed rats. The sensitization of ambulatory responses was also disrupted in KD-fed rats. These results suggest that KDs directly impact dopamine-mediated behaviors, and hence may hold potential as a therapy for drug addiction.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ (5th ed.) Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder is meant to capture the social elements of communication dysfunction in children who do not meet autism spectrum disorder criteria. It is unclear whether Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder captures these elements without overlapping with Autism Spectrum Disorder or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ (5th ed.) Language Disorder. Standardized behavioral assessments administered during a family genetics study were used to evaluate the social communication impairment and the restricted interests and repetitive behaviors in persons with autism spectrum disorder, language impairment, or neither. Social communication impairment and restricted interests and repetitive behavior were significantly correlated in all family members regardless of affection status. Rates of social communication impairment and restricted interests and repetitive behavior were highest in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. One-third of family members with language impairment presented with at least mild/moderate levels of social communication impairment (36.6%) and restricted interests and repetitive behavior (43.3%). A subset of unaffected members also presented with mild/moderate levels of social communication impairment (parents = 10.1%, siblings 11.6%) and restricted interests and repetitive behavior (parents = 14.0%, siblings = 22.1%). The majority of child family members with mild/moderate levels of social communication impairment had similar restricted interest and repetitive behavior levels reflecting criteria representing the Broad Autism Phenotype. These data suggest that social pragmatic communication disorder does not capture the profiles of children who have both social communication impairment and restricted interests and repetitive behavior but are in need of clinical services.

Objectives Older adults are often judged to be warm, but not competent, which contradicts their representation in positions of authority. This study sought to extend evidence of age differences in more individualistic (e.g., “I”) and collectivistic (e.g., “we”) language and explore their impact on judgments of performance and electability. Method Speeches from young and older adults who campaigned for a fictitious position were analyzed using Linguistic and Inquiry Word Count Software. Words fitting specified categories (e.g., pronouns, affect) were compared to outcome judgments obtained from trained coders on the dimensions of performance and electability. Results Older adults used significantly more “we”-language. Young adults used more “I”-language, and more positive affect, achievement, and power language. Language choices and coder judgments were associated such that the more “I”-language that was used during the speech, the less electable the candidate was judged. This relationship was not found for “we”-language. Discussion This study found no evidence for collectivistic language enhancing ratings of electability or performance; however, an age-invariable, negative relationship was obtained between increased individualistic language and reduced coder judgments of electability. This suggests that speakers should minimize “I”-statements to promote electability, a characteristic that is reflected more in older adults’ speeches than young.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide an update of the most recent studies on Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) with a focus on the unique pattern of behavioral and sleep disturbances associated with the condition. RECENT FINDINGS: The recent literature on SMS has focused on the characteristic severe behavioral and sleep disturbances. A better understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and common clinical course has helped further characterize SMS, while much is left to be discovered in regard to effective treatment/management. SUMMARY: SMS is a difficult to manage genetic condition defined by pervasive and progressive behavioral and sleep disturbances with a unique pattern that can often be easily discerned from other neurodevelopmental disorders. Common behavioral features include maladaptive/self-injurious, aggressive, stereotypic, and the newly appreciated food seeking behaviors associated with SMS. In addition, there is a sleep disturbance defined by an altered circadian rhythm with frequent nighttime waking and daytime sleepiness, causing patients and families significant distress. Small studies have suggested some treatment/management approaches to the behavioral and sleep disturbances, however, a lot remains to be discovered.

One reason for treating stereotypic behavior is that it may negatively impact how others perceive the individual displaying the behavior, thus impeding social interactions; however, few studies have directly evaluated this possibility. As a first step toward testing this position, participants (college students) in Study 1 watched 5-min video clips of a child engaging in hand/finger motor stereotypy at varying levels (0%, 17%, 37%, and 40% of the time) while sound was muted. Following each video, participants completed a questionnaire to evaluate their perception of the child. In Study 2, additional participants completed the same questionnaire after watching the same videos with the sound unmuted to determine if the addition of vocal stereotypy altered their perceptions of the child. Results indicate that (a) observers negatively rated the child when he displayed motor stereotypy for 17% or more of a video clip and (b) the addition of vocal stereotypy yielded more negative judgements than motor stereotypy alone.

To date, the phenotypic significance of EEG abnormalities in patients with ASD is unclear. In a population affected by ASD we aimed to evaluate: the phenotypic characteristics; the prevalence of EEG abnormalities; the potential correlations between EEG abnormalities and behavioral and cognitive variables. Sixty-nine patients with ASD underwent cognitive or developmental testing, language assessment, and adaptive behavior skills evaluation as well as sleep/wake EEG recording. EEG abnormalities were found in 39.13% of patients. EEG abnormalities correlated with autism severity, hyperactivity, anger outbursts, aggression, negative or destructive behavior, motor stereotypies, intellectual disability, language impairment and self-harm. Our findings confirmed that EEG abnormalities are present in the ASD population and correlate with several associated phenotypic features.

To fulfill the criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), symptoms must be present across domains and contexts. We assessed preschool staff’s ratings of social communication and interaction (SCI) and restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in 3-year-old siblings of children with ASD, either diagnosed (n = 12) or not diagnosed (n = 36) with ASD, and typically developing siblings with no family history of ASD (n = 16). Ratings of SCI were more accurate than RRBs in differentiating the ASD group from the two other groups, and only the SCI ratings correlated with SCI symptoms rated by clinical experts. We conclude that while preschool staff ratings of SCI behaviors are adequate, ratings of RRBs should be treated with more caution.

Background Many people with intellectual disabilities use risperidone long term for the management of challenging behaviours, despite its limited proof of effectiveness and its clear association with adverse events. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of ongoing treatment with risperidone in reducing challenging behaviours versus controlled discontinuation on behaviour and health parameters. Method This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised discontinuation trial of risperidone. In the discontinuation group, risperidone was gradually replaced by a placebo over 14 weeks, while the control group maintained their existing dosage. Eight weeks after discontinuation, behaviour (as measured by the 'Aberrant Behavior Checklist') and health parameters (dyskinesia, akathisia, parkinsonism, weight, waist circumference, sedation and laboratory outcomes) were compared in both groups. Results A total of 25 participants were included in the trial, of which 11 were randomised into the discontinuation group and 14 were randomised into the continued treatment group. In the discontinuation group, 82% completely withdrew from risperidone. There was no significant change in irritability, compared with the continuation group, although there was a Group*Time effects on stereotypical behaviour in favour of the continuation group. Significant Group*Time effects were also found for weight, waist, body mass index, prolactin levels and testosterone levels, with beneficial effects for the discontinuation group. Conclusion Discontinuation of long-term risperidone for reducing challenging behaviours is possible, without an increase in irritability. Discontinuation of risperidone may have beneficial effects on weight, waist circumference, prolactin levels and testosterone levels. The study suffered from difficulties in achieving the required sample size, which affected study power and generalizability.

The ameliorating effect of risperidone on apomorphine-induced stereotyped behavior and inhibition of auditory sensory gating was investigated using rhesus monkeys. The total duration of the stereotyped behavior observed in the control group was 43.7 ± 23.0 s (n = 3) between 10 and 25 min after vehicle administration, whereas the duration in the apomorphine-treated (0.1 or 0.15 mg/kg i.m., n = 3) group was observed to be significantly prolonged to 413.0 ± 150.6 s. Administration of 0.01, 0.03, 0.1 mg/kg of risperidone 60 min before apomorphine, significantly reduced the duration of this apomorphine-induced stereotyped behavior to 327 ± 104.9 s (n = 3), 8.3 ± 4.2 s (n = 3), and 0.0 ± × 0.0 s (n = 3, t-test: p 0.05), respectively. Next, the auditory sensory gating test/conditioning (T/C) ratio was used as a bio-marker. The T/C ratio was 0.598 ± 0.0802 in the vehicle-administered control group (n = 4) and was significantly increased to 2.098 ± 0.254 (n = 4) by apomorphine (0.15 mg/kg, i.m.). Administering of risperidone (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) 30 min before apomorphine treatment significantly restricted the T/C ratio to 0.571 ± 0.0886 (n = 4), compared to the T/C ratio in the vehicle-administered control group. The above results demonstrate, not only behaviorally but also electrophysiologically, the ameliorating effect of risperidone on the induction of schizophrenia-like symptoms by apomorphine in non-human primates.

Social-communication (SC) and restricted repetitive behaviors (RRB) are autism diagnostic symptom domains. SC and RRB severity can markedly differ within and between individuals and may be underpinned by different neural circuitry and genetic mechanisms. Modeling SC-RRB balance could help identify how neural circuitry and genetic mechanisms map onto such phenotypic heterogeneity. Here, we developed a phenotypic stratification model that makes highly accurate (97–99%) out-of-sample SC = RRB, SC > RRB, and RRB > SC subtype predictions. Applying this model to resting state fMRI data from the EU-AIMS LEAP dataset (n = 509), we find that while the phenotypic subtypes share many commonalities in terms of intrinsic functional connectivity, they also show replicable differences within some networks compared to a typically-developing group (TD). Specifically, the somatomotor network is hypoconnected with perisylvian circuitry in SC > RRB and visual association circuitry in SC = RRB. The SC = RRB subtype show hyperconnectivity between medial motor and anterior salience circuitry. Genes that are highly expressed within these networks show a differential enrichment pattern with known autism-associated genes, indicating that such circuits are affected by differing autism-associated genomic mechanisms. These results suggest that SC-RRB imbalance subtypes share many commonalities, but also express subtle differences in functional neural circuitry and the genomic underpinnings behind such circuitry., Natasha Bertelsen et al. develop a computational model to categorize patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) into distinct subgroups, based on social-communicative or restricted repetitive behaviors. By integrating publicly available neuroimaging and genetic data, they report neural and molecular signatures in two of these subgroups, altogether highlighting subtle differences in neural circuitry and genomic networks that could underlie phenotypic differences among ASD patients.

Repetitive behavioral phenotypes are a trait of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Such behaviors are typified by complex interactions between cognitive and neurobiological processes which most likely contribute to the suboptimal treatment responses often observed. To this end, exploration of the adenosinergic system may be useful, since adenosine-receptor modulation has previously shown promise to restore control over voluntary behavior and improve cognition in patients presenting with motor repetition. Here, we employed the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) model of compulsive-like behavioral persistence, seeking to investigate possible associations between stereotypic motor behavior and cognitive flexibility as measured in the T-maze continuous alternation task (T-CAT). The effect of istradefylline, a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist at two doses (10 and 20 mg kg-1 day-1 ) on the expression of stereotypy and T-CAT performance in high (H) and non-(N) stereotypical animals, was investigated in comparison to a control intervention (six groups; n = 8 or 9 per group). No correlation between H behavior and T-CAT performance was found. However, H but not N animals presented with istradefylline-sensitive spontaneous alternation and stereotypy, in that istradefylline at both doses significantly improved the spontaneous alternation scores and attenuated the stereotypical expression of H animals. Thus, evidence is presented that anti-adenosinergic drug action improves repetitive behavior and spontaneous alternation in stereotypical deer mice, putatively pointing to a shared psychobiological construct underlying naturalistic stereotypy and alterations in cognitive flexibility in deer mice.

Japan has a large gender gap; thus, this study examined whether Japanese 4- to 7-year-old children exhibit a “brilliance = males” stereotype and whether parental attitudes toward gender roles were related to children’s stereotypes. We also explored whether the children exhibited such stereotypes in response to various stimuli. We showed children photos (Study 1) and stick figures (Study 2) of men, women, boys, and girls, asking them to attribute traits (smart or nice) to each. Study 1 revealed overwhelming in-group positivity in girls, whereas the results for boys were rather mixed. In Study 2, girls generally attributed nice to their own gender compared to boys. However, “brilliance = males” stereotypical responses were observed from 7 years of age, when boys began to be more likely to attribute smartness to their own gender compared to girls. The new data in Study 3 replicated results of Study 1 and parts of the results of Study 2. Moreover, merging the Study 3 data with that of Studies 1 and 2 confirmed their findings. Furthermore, it replicated the “brilliance = males” stereotype among 7-year-olds in the stick figure task. Parental attitudes toward gender roles were unrelated to children’s gender stereotypes. The results indicated that Japanese children may acquire “brilliance = males” stereotypes later than American children (6-years-old). Furthermore, the results were clearer when children were presented with stick figure stimuli., 子どものジェンダーステレオタイプが生じる時期を解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-10-12.

Parvalbumin (PV)-expressing neurons have been implicated in the pathology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Loss of PV expression and/or reduced number of PV-expressing neurons have been reported not only in genetic and environmental rodent models of ASD, but also in post-mortem analyses of brain tissues from ASD vs. healthy control human subjects. PV-expressing neurons play a pivotal role in the maintenance of the balance between excitation and inhibition within neural circuits in part because of their fast-spiking properties. Their high firing rate is mostly regulated by the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv3.1. It is yet unknown whether disturbances in the electrophysiological properties of PV-expressing neurons per se can lead to behavioral disturbances. We assessed locomotor activity, social interaction, recognition and memory, and stereotypic behaviors in Kv3.1 wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice. We then used Western Blot analyses to measure the impact of Kv3.1 deficiency on markers of GABA transmission (PV and GAD67) and neural circuit activity (Egr1). Deficiency in Kv3.1 channel is sufficient to induce social deficits, hyperactivity and stereotypic behaviors. These behavioral changes were independent of changes in GAD67 levels and associated with increased levels of PV protein in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. These findings reveal that a loss of PV expression is not a necessary factor to induce an ASD-like phenotype in mice and support the need for further investigation to fully understand the contribution of PV-expressing neurons to ASD pathology.

This study examined stereotypy in naturalistic classroom contexts (i.e., academic programming, leisure skill acquisition) with differential reinforcement of contextually appropriate behavior (DRA). When stereotypy was problematic, redirection to the ongoing activity was provided. Contextually appropriate behavior and stereotypy were measured across all contexts prior to redirecting stereotypy to contextually appropriate behavior. Low levels of stereotypy were observed during the DRA in at least 2 contexts for all 5 participants. Context-specific redirection was added to the DRA if stereotypy persisted, and decreased stereotypy in 9 of the 10 evaluations. The results suggest that stereotypy might not be problematic in all contexts when DRA is present and redirection to contextually relevant appropriate behavior is an effective strategy.

Background Surface functionalization enhances the properties and characteristics of polymeric nanocapsules (NCs) mainly due to the surface charge, surfactants, and polymer coating type. Curcumin (CUR) is a bioactive compound with several proven pharmacological properties and low bioavailability. This study aimed to develop anionic (poly-ɛ-caprolactone; PCL) and cationic (Eudragit® RS100 (EUD)) NCs prepared with sorbitan monostearate (Span 60®) or sorbitan monooleate (Span 80®), coated with d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and optimized using 23 factorial analysis. Subsequently, the biological activity was evaluated. Methods A two-level, three-factor design (polymer, Span type, and TPGS concentration) was used. The biological effects of CUR-loaded TPGS-coated cationic and anionic NCs were assessed in apomorphine-induced stereotyped behavior in rats. Results The type of polymer (anionic or cationic) and Span® had a factorial influence on the physical and chemical characteristics of NCs according to the changes in TPGS concentrations. Both cationic and anionic CUR-NCs could block apomorphine-induced behavioral changes. Conclusions The CUR-loaded TPGS-coated NCs proved to be a promising brain delivery system.

SUMMARYDrinking behavior in rodents is characterized by stereotyped, rhythmic licking movement, which is regulated by the basal ganglia. It is unclear how direct and indirect pathways control the lick bout and individual spout contact. We find that inactivating D1 and D2 receptors-expressing medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the ventrolateral striatum (VLS) oppositely alters the number of licks in a bout. D1- and D2-MSNs exhibit different patterns of lick sequence-related activity and different phases of oscillation time-locked to the lick cycle. On timescale of a lick cycle, transient inactivation of D1-MSNs during tongue protrusion reduces spout contact probability, whereas transiently inactivating D2-MSNs has no effect. On timescale of a lick bout, inactivation of D1-MSNs (D2-MSNs) causes rate increase (decrease) in a subset of basal ganglia output neurons that decrease firing during licking. Our results reveal the distinct roles of D1- and D2-MSNs in regulating licking at both coarse and fine timescales.

Fundamentada nos estudos culturais e de gênero, esta pesquisa analisa a representatividade de mulheres em cargos de treinadora e auxiliar no futebol de mulheres, buscando identificar as estratégias de subversão e resistência adotadas para sua inserção e permanência. Os materiais de análise foram os discursos das participantes aliados a fontes documentais, como notícias e produções acadêmicas. A análise evidencia que as profissionais conquistaram o acesso aos cargos em decorrência das experiências como líderes enquanto atletas e/ou estagiárias e por seus altos níveis de capacitação. Elas asseguram sua permanência ao atestarem diariamente sua competência, mantendo o nível de capacitação e superando estereótipos de gênero. Elas personificam a eminente resistência oferecida pelas mulheres em espaços tradicionalmente reservados aos homens, tensionando as relações de poder. Contudo, a consolidação de uma condição equânime requer investimento financeiro e, sobretudo, empenho na desconstrução de estereótipos de gênero., Based on cultural and gender studies, this research analyzes women’s representativeness as coaches and assistant coaches in women’s football, seeking to identify the subversion and resistance strategies adopted for their inclusion and permanence. The analysis focused on participants’ speeches and document sources such as news articles and academic works. It shows how professionals gained access to the roles resulting from their leadership experiences as athletes and/or interns and for their high capacity. They ensure their permanence by attesting their competence on a daily basis, maintaining their level of ability and overcoming gender stereotypes. They personify the eminent resistance offered by women in spaces traditionally reserved for men, thus tensioning power relations. However, the consolidation of equal conditions requires financial investment and, above all, a commitment to deconstructing gender stereotypes., Fundamentada en los estudios culturales y de género, esta investigación analiza la representatividad de mujeres en cargos de entrenadora y auxiliar en el fútbol femenino, buscando identificar las estrategias de subversión y resistencia adoptadas para lograr su inserción y permanencia. Los materiales de análisis fueron los discursos de las participantes, aliados a fuentes documentales, como noticias y producciones académicas. El análisis muestra que las profesionales conquistaron su acceso a los cargos debido a sus experiencias de liderazgo como atletas y por sus altos niveles de capacitación. Aseguran su permanencia probando diariamente su competencia y superando los estereotipos de género. Encarnan la resistencia ofrecida por las mujeres en espacios tradicionalmente reservados a los hombres, tensando las relaciones de poder. Sin embargo, la consolidación de una condición de ecuanimidad requiere inversión financiera y, sobre todo, un compromiso con la deconstrucción de los estereotipos de género.

Restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBIs) occur commonly in young children in the course of typical development, but too frequent or persistent RRBIs have been linked to a variety of psychosocial and neurodevelopmental disorders. Unfortunately, a lack of psychometrically sound, feasible instruments stymies RRBI study and intervention in early childhood. Therefore, this study validated an extant RRBI measure (i.e., Repetitive Behavior Scale for Early Childhood; RBS-EC) for predominately neurotypical community children ages 2-7 years via an MTurk survey of 300 caregivers. Confirmatory factor analyses best supported a 4-factor model for the RBS-EC (i.e., repetitive motor, rituals and routines, restricted interests, self-directed behaviors). RBS-EC scores varied significantly with age and gender; namely, RRBIs were typically (1) less frequent but more problematic with older versus younger children and (2) more frequent and problematic with boys versus girls. Findings extend the RBS-EC's utility in RRBI assessment and treatment during early childhood.

Shooter bias is the tendency to more quickly shoot at unarmed Black suspects compared to unarmed White suspects. The primary goal of this research was to investigate the efficacy of shooter bias simulation studies in a more realistic immersive virtual scenario instead of the traditional methodologies using desktop computers. In this paper we present results from a user study (N=99) investigating shooter and racial bias in an immersive virtual environment. Our results highlight how racial bias was observed differently in an immersive virtual environment compared to previous desktop-based simulation studies. Latency to shoot, the standard shooter bias measure, was not found to be significantly different between race or socioeconomic status in our more realistic scenarios where participants chose to raise a weapon and pull a trigger. However, more nuanced head and hand motion analysis was able to predict participants' racial shooting accuracy and implicit racism scores. Discussion of how these nuanced measures can be used for detecting behavior changes for body-swap illusions, and implications of this work related to racial justice and police brutality are discussed.

Disruptive or excessive repetitive motor patterns (stereotypies) are cardinal symptoms in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders. Stereotypies are also evoked by psychomotor stimulants such as amphetamine. The acquisition of motor sequences is paralleled by changes in activity patterns in the striatum, and stereotypies have been linked to abnormal plasticity in these reinforcement-related circuits. Here, we designed experiments in mice to identify transcriptomic changes that underlie striatal plasticity occurring alongside the development of drug-induced stereotypic behavior. We identified three schedules of amphetamine treatment inducing different degrees of stereotypy and used bulk RNAseq to compare striatal gene expression changes among groups of mice treated with the different drug-dose schedules and vehicle-treated, cage-mate controls. Mice were identified as naive, sensitized, or tolerant to drug-induced stereotypy. All drug-treated groups exhibited expression changes in genes that encode members of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascades known to regulate psychomotor stimulant responses. In the sensitized group with the most prolonged stereotypy, we found dysregulation of 20 genes that were not changed in other groups. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated highly significant overlap with genes regulated by neuregulin 1 (Nrg1). Nrg1 is known to be a schizophrenia and autism susceptibility gene that encodes a ligand for Erb-B receptors, which are involved in neuronal migration, myelination, and cell survival, including that of dopamine-containing neurons. Stimulant abuse is a risk factor for schizophrenia onset, and these two disorders share behavioral stereotypy phenotypes. Our results raise the possibility that drug-induced sensitization of the Nrg1 signaling pathway might underlie these links.

Despite the utility of experimental functional analysis methodology, not all applications produce differentiated results. Factors such as interaction effects or methodological inefficiencies may compromise the likelihood of obtaining differentiated outcomes. Various studies have addressed methods to improve the efficiency of experimental functional analysis methodology (e.g., analysis of within-session responding). In the current study, we describe an updated model for progressing from brief to extended experimental analyses. The model incorporates several procedural refinements developed over the past 20+ years of experimental functional analysis research and additional conditions to confirm or annul findings. We present data for 20 participants who were referred for assessment and treatment of a variety of behavior problems (e.g., stereotypy, aggression, self-injury). We generally terminated the analyses when response patterns were consistent with established best-practice functional analysis methodology. Results showed conclusive interpretations were obtained for 100% of participants.

Former research has identified stigmatizing attitudes toward cancer patients in the general population. Little is known about (implicit) attitudes of physicians toward cancer patients. By using the prototype approach, the study investigated German physicians’ prototypical perceptions of cancer patients. Five hundred nineteen physicians (mean age: 46 years, 47% female) who regularly treat cancer patients participated in the questionnaire study. Participants were asked to state three prototype attributes that describe the “typical cancer patient.” Open format answers were coded on the dimensions favorability (coded with unfavorable, favorable, or neutral) and gender-stereotypicality (coded with masculine stereotypical, feminine stereotypical, or gender-neutral). Of all prototype attributes ( N = 1,589), 69.9% were coded as unfavorable and 14.3% as favorable, the remaining attributes were neutral (15.9%). Analysis of gender-stereotypicality revealed that nearly half of the attributes (49.5%) were compatible with the feminine, whereas only 6.5% were compatible with the masculine stereotype. The remaining attributes (44.0%) were gender-neutral. There were no significant associations between prototype favorability or gender-stereotypicality and demographic/professional characteristics of physicians. The prototype approach was successful to identify (implicit) attitudes toward cancer patients and might be more sensitive than social distance scales when investigating stigmatizing attitudes. Physicians described the “typical cancer patient” with predominantly unfavorable and feminine attributes, while favorable attributes were underrepresented and positive masculine attributes were barely mentioned. The finding that the “typical cancer patient” lacks (positive) masculine attributes should be followed up in further research.