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Journal of the Neurological Sciences Jun 2024Previous research has identified that people with cerebellar ataxia (CA) showed impaired reward-related decision-making in the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). To investigate...
INTRODUCTION
Previous research has identified that people with cerebellar ataxia (CA) showed impaired reward-related decision-making in the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). To investigate the mechanisms underlying this impairment, we examined CA participants' combination of performance in the IGT, which predominantly tests reward seeking, and the modified IGT (mIGT), which mainly assesses punishment avoidance.
METHODS
Fifty participants with CA and one hundred controls completed the IGT and mIGT. Task performance in each of the five twenty-trial blocks was compared between groups and the learning rates were assessed with simple linear regressions. Each participant's IGT score and mIGT score were compared.
RESULTS
CA participants performed worse than controls in both the IGT and the mIGT, especially in the last block (IGT: -0.24 ± 10.05 vs. 3.88 ± 10.31, p = 0.041; mIGT: 2.72 ± 7.62 vs. 8.65 ± 8.64, p < 0.001). In contrast to the controls, those with CA did not significantly improve their scores over time in either task. Controls performed better in the mIGT than the IGT, while CA participants' scores in the two tasks showed no significant difference. IGT and mIGT performance did not correlate with ataxia severity or depressive symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Individuals with CA showed impaired performance in both the IGT and mIGT, which indicates disruption in both short-term reward seeking and short-term punishment avoidance. Therefore, these results suggest that reduced sensitivity to long-term consequences drives the risky decision-making in CA.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Cerebellar Ataxia; Decision Making; Gambling; Adult; Reward; Neuropsychological Tests; Aged
PubMed: 38810429
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123060 -
PloS One 2024There is a huge funding gap in the abandoned mines ecological restoration in China. It is of great research value to explore how PPP model can better introduce social...
There is a huge funding gap in the abandoned mines ecological restoration in China. It is of great research value to explore how PPP model can better introduce social capital into the low-profit ecological restoration of abandoned mines. Based on the innovation perspective of the central government's reward and punishment system, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model of "local government-social capital", analyzes the interaction and behavior mechanism of core stakeholders in the operation process of abandoned mines ecological restoration PPP mode, and discusses the influence of evolutionary equilibrium strategy and parameters change on evolutionary strategy under different scenarios by Matlab simulation. The research shows that the abandoned mines ecological restoration needs the support of the central government. When the local government lightly punishes the low-quality service of social capital, the central government needs to pay higher costs to promote all parties to actively participate in the operation and supervision of the PPP project. The revenue and cost of government supervision, the operating subsidy for social capital and the cost saved by social capital in providing bad service are the key factors affecting the evolution of the game between government and social capital. Punishment can effectively spur social capital to keep the contract and operate in the project, but the punishment effect will be ineffective without government supervision. Finally, some suggestions are put forward, such as establishing a long-term supervision mechanism and a reasonable income mechanism for PPP projects, increasing penalties for violations, attracting third parties to reduce supervision costs and strengthening communication between the two parties, so as to make the project take into account the economic performance of social capital and the social welfare of government departments, and achieve dual Pareto improvement.
Topics: China; Punishment; Mining; Reward; Game Theory; Humans; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; Government; Conservation of Natural Resources; Social Capital
PubMed: 38809888
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304368 -
IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks... May 2024In the field of biocomputing and neural networks, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strand displacement (DSD) technology performs well in computation, programming, and...
In the field of biocomputing and neural networks, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strand displacement (DSD) technology performs well in computation, programming, and information processing. In this article, the multiplication gate, addition gate, and threshold gate based on DSD are used to cascade into a single DNA neuron. Multiple DNA neurons can be cascaded to form different neural networks. The DNA neural networks are designed to implement seven classical conditioned reflexes from Pavlovian associative memory experiments. A classical conditioned reflex is a combination of a conditioned stimulus (CS) and another un CS with a reward or punishment. So that the individual develops a conditioned reflex that is similar to an unconditioned reflex in the use of CS alone. The seven classical conditioned reflexes include acquisition and forgetting, interstimulus interval effect, blocking, conditioned inhibition, overshadowing, generation, and differentiation. The simulations are verified by the software visual DSD. This article provides a direction for the integration of biology and psychology.
PubMed: 38809738
DOI: 10.1109/TNNLS.2024.3393919 -
European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2024Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may lead to increased behavioural problems in children. However, the mediating roles of psychological distress and...
Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may lead to increased behavioural problems in children. However, the mediating roles of psychological distress and corporal punishment, two common mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of maternal ACEs, in these relations have not been examined in Chinese samples. Multigenerational homes (MGH) are the dominate living arrangement in China; however, limited research focuses on the effects of MGHs on the intergenerational transmission of maternal ACEs. This study explored the parallel mediating effects of corporal punishment and psychological distress on the association between maternal ACEs and children's behaviour and whether MGHs can strengthen or weaken the relationship between maternal ACEs and corporal punishment or psychological distress. Participants were 643 three-year-old children and their mothers (mean age of 32.85 years, SD = 3.79) from Wuhu, China. Mothers completed online questionnaires measuring ACEs, psychological distress, corporal punishment, their family structure, and children's behavioural problems. This study used a moderated mediation model. The findings suggest that psychological distress and corporal punishment mediate the association between maternal ACEs and children's behavioural problems. The mediating role of corporal punishment was found depend on whether mothers and their children reside in MGHs. MGHs were not found to have a moderating role in the indirect relationship between maternal ACEs and children's behaviour problems via psychological distress. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological distress and corporal punishment when designing interventions targeted Chinese mothers exposed to ACEs and their children, especially those living in MGHs.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adverse Childhood Experiences; Adult; China; Male; Punishment; Child, Preschool; Mothers; Surveys and Questionnaires; Intergenerational Relations; Mother-Child Relations; Psychological Distress
PubMed: 38809612
DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2355757 -
JAMA Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Nitrogen; Capital Punishment; United States
PubMed: 38809524
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.6577 -
Games For Health Journal May 2024College students experience intense anxiety, for which biofeedback mindfulness techniques show effectiveness in relief. However, typical biofeedback products often lead...
College students experience intense anxiety, for which biofeedback mindfulness techniques show effectiveness in relief. However, typical biofeedback products often lead to user fatigue and boredom because of a single or fixed feedback and lack of focus on mindfulness enhancement. In this research, we developed Mindjourney, a VR-based respiratory feedback mindfulness system, designed to enhance mindfulness and alleviate anxiety through continuous/noncontinuous feedback and nonjudgmental reward/punishment for self-perception and attention management. A randomized controlled trial involved 72 college students, split equally into short-term ( = 34, age: 23.11 ± 1.729) and 4-week long-term ( = 38, age: 24.12 ± 1.408) groups, with equal randomization for intervention and control groups. Pre/postintervention tests were measured by using Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) for long-term groups and Galvanic Skin Response and State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) for short-term groups. Results showed that the long-term intervention group showed a significant increase in mindfulness ( = 0.001 for FFMQ total score). Furthermore, and subscales showed significant increase after intervention ( = 0.034 for , < 0.001 for ) compared with the control group. Both intervention groups demonstrated a significant decrease in anxiety levels compared with the control groups ( = 0.049 for SAI, = 0.01 for TAI). Moreover, participants expressed high interest in this biofeedback mindfulness system and willingness for long-term usage. The proposed biofeedback mindfulness practice system could potentially facilitate mindfulness practice and serve as a convenient tool for anxiety relief in campus college students.
PubMed: 38808471
DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2024.0041 -
Experimental Brain Research Jul 2024Sensorimotor adaptation is a form of motor learning that is essential for maintaining motor performance across the lifespan and is integral to recovery of function after...
Sensorimotor adaptation is a form of motor learning that is essential for maintaining motor performance across the lifespan and is integral to recovery of function after neurological injury. Recent research indicates that experiencing a balance-threatening physical consequence when making a movement error during adaptation can enhance subsequent motor memory. This is perhaps not surprising, as learning to avoid injury is critical for our survival and well-being. Reward and punishment can also differentially modify aspects of motor learning. However, it remains unclear whether other forms of non-physical consequences can impact motor learning. Here we tested the hypothesis that a loud acoustic stimulus linked to a movement error during adaptation could lead to greater generalization and consolidation. Two groups of participants (n = 12 each) adapted to a new, prism-induced visuomotor mapping while performing a precision walking task. One group experienced an unexpected loud acoustic stimulus (85 dB tone) when making foot-placement errors during adaptation. This auditory consequence group adapted faster and showed greater generalization with an interlimb transfer task, but not greater generalization to an obstacle avoidance task. Both groups showed faster relearning (i.e., savings) during the second testing session one week later despite the presence of an interference block of trials following initial adaptation, indicating successful consolidation. However, we did not find significant differences between groups with relearning during session 2. Overall, our results suggest that auditory consequences may serve as a useful method to improve motor learning, though further research is required.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Young Adult; Adaptation, Physiological; Psychomotor Performance; Adult; Acoustic Stimulation; Auditory Perception; Memory; Generalization, Psychological
PubMed: 38806711
DOI: 10.1007/s00221-024-06850-7 -
National Science Review May 2024Octopamine (OA), analogous to norepinephrine in vertebrates, is an essential monoamine neurotransmitter in invertebrates that plays a significant role in various...
Octopamine (OA), analogous to norepinephrine in vertebrates, is an essential monoamine neurotransmitter in invertebrates that plays a significant role in various biological functions, including olfactory associative learning. However, the spatial and temporal dynamics of OA remain poorly understood due to limitations associated with the currently available methods used to detect it. To overcome these limitations, we developed a genetically encoded GPCR activation-based (GRAB) OA sensor called GRAB. This sensor is highly selective for OA and exhibits a robust and rapid increase in fluorescence in response to extracellular OA. Using GRAB, we monitored OA release in the mushroom body (MB), the fly's learning center, and found that OA is released in response to both odor and shock stimuli in an aversive learning model. This OA release requires acetylcholine (ACh) released from Kenyon cells, signaling via nicotinic ACh receptors. Finally, we discovered that OA amplifies aversive learning behavior by augmenting dopamine-mediated punishment signals via Octβ1R in dopaminergic neurons, leading to alterations in synaptic plasticity within the MB. Thus, our new GRAB sensor can be used to monitor OA release in real time under physiological conditions, providing valuable insights into the cellular and circuit mechanisms that underlie OA signaling.
PubMed: 38798960
DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae112 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... May 2024The neuropeptide oxytocin is traditionally known for its roles in parturition, lactation, and social behavior. Other data, however, show that oxytocin can modulate...
The neuropeptide oxytocin is traditionally known for its roles in parturition, lactation, and social behavior. Other data, however, show that oxytocin can modulate behaviors outside of these contexts, including drug self-administration and some aspects of cost-benefit decision making. Here we used a pharmacological approach to investigate the contributions of oxytocin signaling to decision making under risk of explicit punishment. Female and male Long-Evans rats were trained on a risky decision-making task in which they chose between a small, "safe" food reward and a large, "risky" food reward that was accompanied by varying probabilities of mild footshock. Once stable choice behavior emerged, rats were tested in the task following acute intraperitoneal injections of oxytocin or the oxytocin receptor antagonist L-368,899. Neither drug affected task performance in males. In females, however, both oxytocin and L-368,899 caused a dose-dependent reduction in preference for large risky reward. Control experiments showed that these effects could not be accounted for by alterations in food motivation or shock sensitivity. Together, these results reveal a sex-dependent effect of oxytocin signaling on risky decision making in rats.
PubMed: 38798601
DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.13.593981 -
Phase synchrony between prefrontal noradrenergic and cholinergic signals indexes inhibitory control.BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... May 2024Inhibitory control is a critical executive function that allows animals to suppress their impulsive behavior in order to achieve certain goals or avoid punishment. We...
Inhibitory control is a critical executive function that allows animals to suppress their impulsive behavior in order to achieve certain goals or avoid punishment. We investigated norepinephrine (NE) and acetylcholine (ACh) dynamics and population neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex during inhibitory control. Using fluorescent sensors to measure extracellular levels of NE and ACh, we simultaneously recorded the dynamics of prefrontal NE and ACh in mice performing an inhibitory control task. The prefrontal NE and ACh signals exhibited strong coherence at 0.4-0.8 Hz. Chemogenetic inhibition of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons that project to the basal forebrain region reduced inhibitory control performance to chance levels. However, this manipulation did not diminish the difference in NE/ACh signals between successful and failed trials; instead, it abolished the difference in NE-ACh phase synchrony between the successful and failed trials, indicating that NE-ACh phase synchrony is a task-relevant neuromodulatory feature. Chemogenetic inhibition of cholinergic neurons that project to the LC region did not impair the inhibitory control performance, nor did it abolish the difference in NE-ACh phase synchrony between successful or failed trials, further confirming the relevance of NE-ACh phase synchrony to inhibitory control. To understand the possible effect of NE-ACh synchrony on prefrontal population activity, we employed Neuropixels to record from the prefrontal cortex with and without inhibiting LC neurons that project to the basal forebrain during inhibitory control. The LC inhibition reduced the number of prefrontal neurons encoding inhibitory control. Demixed principal component analysis (dPCA) further revealed that population firing patterns representing inhibitory control were impaired by the LC inhibition. Disparities in NE-ACh phase synchrony relevant to inhibitory control occurred only in the prefrontal cortex, but not in the parietal cortex, somatosensory cortex, and the somatosensory thalamus. Taken together, these findings suggest that the LC modulates inhibitory control through its collective effect with cholinergic systems on population activity in the prefrontal cortex. Our results further revealed that NE-ACh phase synchrony is a critical neuromodulatory feature with important implications for cognitive control.
PubMed: 38798371
DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.17.594562