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Cell Sep 2023Social preference, the decision to interact with one member of the same species over another, is critical to optimize social interactions. Thus, adult rodents favor...
Social preference, the decision to interact with one member of the same species over another, is critical to optimize social interactions. Thus, adult rodents favor interacting with novel conspecifics over familiar ones, but whether this social preference stems from neural circuits facilitating interactions with novel individuals or suppressing interactions with familiar ones remains unknown. Here, we identify neurons in the infra-limbic area (ILA) of the mouse prefrontal cortex that express the neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and project to the dorsal region of the rostral lateral septum (rLS). We show how release of CRH during familiar encounters disinhibits rLS neurons, thereby suppressing social interactions with familiar mice and contributing to social novelty preference. We further demonstrate how the maturation of CRH expression in ILA during the first 2 post-natal weeks enables the developmental shift from a preference for littermates in juveniles to a preference for novel mice in adults.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Neurons; Prefrontal Cortex; Signal Transduction; Perception
PubMed: 37669667
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.010 -
Neuron Feb 2022Social competition plays a pivotal role in determining individuals' social status. While the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is essential in regulating social...
Social competition plays a pivotal role in determining individuals' social status. While the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is essential in regulating social competition, it remains unclear how information is processed within its local networks. Here, by applying optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations in a dominance tube test, we reveal that, in accordance with pyramidal (PYR) neuron activation, excitation of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) or inhibition of the parvalbumin (PV) interneurons induces winning. The winning behavior is associated with sequential calcium activities initiated by VIP and followed by PYR and PV neurons. Using miniature two-photon microscopic (MTPM) and optrode recordings in awake mice, we show that VIP stimulation directly leads to a two-phased activity pattern of both PYR and PV neurons-rapid suppression followed by activation. The delayed activation of PV implies an embedded feedback tuning. This disinhibitory VIP-PV-PYR motif forms the core of a dmPFC microcircuit to control social competition.
Topics: Animals; Interneurons; Mice; Parvalbumins; Prefrontal Cortex; Pyramidal Cells; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
PubMed: 34793692
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.10.034 -
Journal of Child Psychology and... Mar 2015Though noted in the clinical literature for more than 50 years, attachment disorders have been studied systematically only recently. In part because of the ubiquity of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Though noted in the clinical literature for more than 50 years, attachment disorders have been studied systematically only recently. In part because of the ubiquity of attachments in humans, determining when aberrant behavior is best explained as an attachment disorder as opposed to insecure attachment has led to some confusion. In this selective review, we consider the literature on reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement disorder and describe an emerging consensus about a number of issues, while also noting some areas of controversy and others where we lack clear answers. We include a brief history of the classification of the disorders, as well as measurement issues. We describe their clinical presentation, causes and vulnerability factors, and clinical correlates, including the relation of disorders to secure and insecure attachment classifications. We also review what little is known and what more we need to learn about interventions.
METHODS
We conducted a literature search using PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases, using search terms 'reactive attachment disorder,' 'attachment disorder,' 'indiscriminate behavior,' 'indiscriminate friendliness,' 'indiscriminate socially disinhibited reactive attachment disorder,' 'disinhibited social engagement disorder,' and 'disinhibited social behavior.' We also contacted investigators who have published on these topics.
FINDINGS
A growing literature has assessed behaviors in children who have experienced various types of adverse caregiving environments reflecting signs of putative attachment disorders, though fewer studies have investigated categorically defined attachment disorders. The evidence for two separate disorders is considerable, with reactive attachment disorder indicating children who lack attachments despite the developmental capacity to form them, and disinhibited social engagement disorder indicating children who lack developmentally appropriate reticence with unfamiliar adults and who violate socially sanctioned boundaries.
CONCLUSIONS
Although many questions remain to be answered, especially regarding appropriate interventions, we know considerably more about attachment disorders than we did only a decade ago.
Topics: Child Abuse; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Reactive Attachment Disorder; Social Behavior; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 25359236
DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12347 -
Journal of Child Psychology and... Apr 2017Self-regulation (SR) is central to developmental psychopathology, but progress has been impeded by varying terminology and meanings across fields and literatures. (Review)
Review
Annual Research Review: On the relations among self-regulation, self-control, executive functioning, effortful control, cognitive control, impulsivity, risk-taking, and inhibition for developmental psychopathology.
BACKGROUND
Self-regulation (SR) is central to developmental psychopathology, but progress has been impeded by varying terminology and meanings across fields and literatures.
METHODS
The present review attempts to move that discussion forward by noting key sources of prior confusion such as measurement-concept confounding, and then arguing the following major points.
RESULTS
First, the field needs a domain-general construct of SR that encompasses SR of action, emotion, and cognition and involves both top-down and bottom-up regulatory processes. This does not assume a shared core process across emotion, action, and cognition, but is intended to provide clarity on the extent of various claims about kinds of SR. Second, top-down aspects of SR need to be integrated. These include (a) basic processes that develop early and address immediate conflict signals, such as cognitive control and effortful control (EC), and (b) complex cognition and strategies for addressing future conflict, represented by the regulatory application of complex aspects of executive functioning. Executive function (EF) and cognitive control are not identical to SR because they can be used for other activities, but account for top-down aspects of SR at the cognitive level. Third, impulsivity, risk-taking, and disinhibition are distinct although overlapping; a taxonomy of the kinds of breakdowns of SR associated with psychopathology requires their differentiation. Fourth, different aspects of the SR universe can be organized hierarchically in relation to granularity, development, and time. Low-level components assemble into high-level components. This hierarchical perspective is consistent across literatures.
CONCLUSIONS
It is hoped that the framework outlined here will facilitate integration and cross-talk among investigators working from different perspectives, and facilitate individual differences research on how SR relates to developmental psychopathology.
Topics: Executive Function; Human Development; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Inhibition, Psychological; Mental Disorders; Risk-Taking; Self-Control
PubMed: 28035675
DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12675 -
Brain : a Journal of Neurology Jun 2022Apathy and disinhibition are common and highly distressing neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with negative outcomes in persons with dementia. This paper is a critical... (Review)
Review
Apathy and disinhibition are common and highly distressing neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with negative outcomes in persons with dementia. This paper is a critical review of functional and structural neuroimaging studies of these symptoms transdiagnostically in dementia of the Alzheimer type, which is characterized by prominent amnesia early in the disease course, and behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, characterized by early social-comportmental deficits. We describe the prevalence and clinical correlates of these symptoms and describe methodological issues, including difficulties with symptom definition and different measurement instruments. We highlight the heterogeneity of findings, noting however, a striking similarity of the set of brain regions implicated across clinical diagnoses and symptoms. These regions involve several key nodes of the salience network, and we describe the functions and anatomical connectivity of these brain areas, as well as present a new theoretical account of disinhibition in dementia. Future avenues for research are discussed, including the importance of transdiagnostic studies, measuring subdomains of apathy and disinhibition, and examining different units of analysis for deepening our understanding of the networks and mechanisms underlying these extremely distressing symptoms.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Apathy; Brain; Disease Progression; Frontotemporal Dementia; Humans; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychological Tests
PubMed: 35388419
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac133 -
Current Obesity Reports Dec 2019Literature from the past five years exploring roles of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) Restraint and Disinhibition in relation to adult obesity and eating... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Literature from the past five years exploring roles of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) Restraint and Disinhibition in relation to adult obesity and eating disturbance (ED) was reviewed.
RECENT FINDINGS
Restraint has a mixed impact on weight regulation, diet quality, and vulnerability to ED, where it is related detrimentally to weight regulation, diet, and psychopathology, yet can serve as a protective factor. The impact of Disinhibition is potently related to increased obesity, poorer diet, hedonically driven food choices, and a higher susceptibility to ED. Restraint and Disinhibition have distinct influences on obesity and ED and should be targeted differently in interventions. Further work is required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying TFEQ eating behavior traits.
Topics: Adult; Body Weight; Databases, Factual; Diet; Diet, Reducing; Feeding Behavior; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Humans; Obesity; Surveys and Questionnaires; Weight Loss
PubMed: 31701348
DOI: 10.1007/s13679-019-00365-x -
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 2020Social fear and avoidance of social partners and social situations represent the core behavioral symptom of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), a prevalent psychiatric... (Review)
Review
Social fear and avoidance of social partners and social situations represent the core behavioral symptom of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), a prevalent psychiatric disorder worldwide. The pathological mechanism of SAD remains elusive and there are no specific and satisfactory therapeutic options currently available. With the development of appropriate animal models, growing studies start to unravel neuronal circuit mechanisms underlying social fear, and underscore a fundamental role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Prefrontal cortical functions are implemented by a finely wired microcircuit composed of excitatory principal neurons (PNs) and diverse subtypes of inhibitory interneurons (INs). Disinhibition, defined as a break in inhibition interactions between IN subtypes that enhances the output of excitatory PNs, has recently been discovered to serve as an efficient strategy in cortical information processing. Here, we review the rodent animal models of social fear, the prefrontal IN diversity, and their circuits with a particular emphasis on a novel disinhibitory microcircuit mediated by somatostatin-expressing INs in gating social fear behavior. The INs subtype distinct and microcircuit-based mechanism advances our understanding of the etiology of social fear and sheds light on developing future treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders associated with social fear.
PubMed: 33390908
DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.611732 -
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive... 2022Homicide by older offenders is rare and devastating. It likely occurs due to a complex interaction of personal, social, and environmental factors. Dementia is a...
BACKGROUND
Homicide by older offenders is rare and devastating. It likely occurs due to a complex interaction of personal, social, and environmental factors. Dementia is a progressive neurological condition which may amplify behavioural disturbances such as aggression. This systematic review aims to evaluate the factors associated with homicide committed by people with dementia in order to inform clinical practice.
SUMMARY
MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched in accordance with PRISMA guidelines for empirical studies examining the characteristics and circumstances of people with dementia who committed homicides. Data on factors associated with the homicide were extracted and the quality of each study rated using standardized criteria. A total of 499 papers were screened and thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Study design included case reports (seven studies), case series (four studies), and two retrospective cohort studies, indicative of low levels of evidence. Sample sizes were 1-70. Study findings were predominantly descriptive. Quality ratings ranged from 50 to 100%. Factors associated with disinhibition such as dysexecutive syndrome, alcohol use, and delirium may predispose to severe impulsive aggression. Psychosis and personality pathology appeared to influence targeted assaults resulting in homicide by people with dementia. Victim vulnerability was also a key element.
KEY MESSAGES
The current evidence examining risk factors for homicide committed by people with dementia is limited. However, there are common characteristics reported in these descriptive studies including psychiatric factors and cognitive states causing disinhibition. Recommendations for clinical practice include early assessment of older people with dementia and changed behaviours to allow management of comorbidities and reversible risk factors, alongside education, and advice to carers (who may be targets of aggression). Specialized geriatric forensic psychiatry services and care settings should be developed.
Topics: Aged; Dementia; Homicide; Humans; Psychotic Disorders; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed: 35306488
DOI: 10.1159/000521878 -
Cortex; a Journal Devoted To the Study... Oct 2020Disinhibition, mainly caused by damage in frontotemporal brain regions, is one of the major causes of caregiver distress in neurodegenerative dementias. Behavioural... (Review)
Review
Disinhibition, mainly caused by damage in frontotemporal brain regions, is one of the major causes of caregiver distress in neurodegenerative dementias. Behavioural inhibition deficits are usually described as a loss of social conduct and impulsivity, whereas cognitive inhibition deficits refer to impairments in the suppression of prepotent verbal responses and resistance to distractor interference. In this review, we aim to discuss inhibition deficits in neurodegenerative dementias through behavioural, cognitive, neuroanatomical and neurophysiological exploration. We also discuss impulsivity and compulsivity behaviours as related to disinhibition. We will therefore describe different tests available to assess both behavioural and cognitive disinhibition and summarise different manifestations of disinhibition across several neurodegenerative diseases (behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, Huntington's disease). Finally, we will present the latest findings about structural, metabolic, functional, neurophysiological and also neuropathological correlates of inhibition impairments. We will briefly conclude by mentioning some of the latest pharmacological and non pharmacological treatment options available for disinhibition. Within this framework, we aim to highlight i) the current interests and limits of tests and questionnaires available to assess behavioural and cognitive inhibition in clinical practice and in clinical research; ii) the interpretation of impulsivity and compulsivity within the spectrum of inhibition deficits; and iii) the brain regions and networks involved in such behaviours.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Cognition; Frontotemporal Dementia; Humans; Inhibition, Psychological; Neuropsychological Tests; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive
PubMed: 32919754
DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.08.001