Factors modulating the effects of teleost telencephalon ablation on retention, relearning, and extinction of instrumental avoidance behavior.

Examined the nature of avoidance behavior in a total of 65 goldfish (Carassius auratus) in 2 experiments. In Exp I, a master/yoked design was used to determine the degree to which Pavlovian conditioning would generate acquisition of a shuttle response by 24 Ss. Results indicate that the sequence of signal-shock pairings experienced by the avoidance Ss was not in this situation sufficient to explain the development of the instrumental avoidance responding. In Exp II, the effects of 3 variables on the retention and extinction of the avoidance response were studied. First, unilateral lesions of the telencephalon produced a transient deficit from which the Ss recovered to normal levels. Retention of avoidance response after bilateral telencephalon ablation was impaired and never fully recovered with additional training. Second, this deficit was reduced under higher intensities of electric shock. Overtraining on the task before the ablation had only a nonsignificant enhancing effect on retention levels. Extinction was always poorer following ablation, independent of the type of ablation, intensity of shock, degree of overtraining, and terminal retention level of performance. (52 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fornix lesions, plasma ACTH levels, and shuttle box avoidance in rats.

In Exp I, which used 90 male hooded rats as Ss, the consequences of fornix lesions (FLs) for partial acquisition, and performance at 3 postacquisition time intervals, of shuttlebox avoidance were tested. FL Ss achieved criterion performance more rapidly than controls. The performance of controls was depressed when they were tested 1 hr after acquisition ("Kamin effect"), but the performance of FL Ss was not impaired. The possibility that FLs altered plasma ACTH concentrations at the intervals after avoidance training used in Exp I was examined in Exp II (96 Ss). Plasma ACTH concentrations were elevated in FL Ss compared with unoperated and sham-operated controls, both immediately and 1 hr after avoidance training. Plasma ACTH levels were not elevated in FL Ss following either stress alone or 24 hrs after avoidance training. Results indicate that FLs cause elevated ACTH levels in rats after avoidance training that are responsible for elimination of the Kamin effect. In addition, data support the contention that enhanced acquisition of 2-way active avoidance by rats with FLs or hippocampal damage might be attributable to increased plasma ACTH levels. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Studies of the extinction of avoidance responding through the massing of trials.

Performed 2 experiments in an automated 1-way avoidance box for rats. Exp. I, with 44 Sprague-Dawley female albino rats, was concerned with the effect of shock intensity on the rate of extinction using the massing-of-trials technique during extinction. Most measures of avoidance learning were not affected by shock intensity, and the rate of extinction was also not significantly affected. Exp. II, with 44 Ss similar to those in Exp. I, examined the effect of the duration of the extinction ITI on the rate of extinction. A critical duration is suggested by results. (French summary) (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adhesiveness of the free surface of a human endometrial monolayer for trophoblast as related to actin cytoskeleton

We have previously shown that angiotensin II(3-7) [Ang II(3-7)] stimulates behavioural activity of rats similar to angiotensin II (Ang II). The involvement of AT1 angiotensin receptors in stimulating the behavioural activity of rats, using their selective ligand losartan (DUP 753), was examined. Ang II(3-7), given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) at a dose of 1 nmol, significantly enhanced recall of a passive avoidance behaviour, object recognition, learning of conditioned avoidance responses (CARs) and apomorphine (1 mg kg-1, i.p.) stereotypy. Losartan (1 microgram, i.c.v.) did not alter any of the behaviours except for that measuring anxiety which was diminished both, in peptide treated and in control rats. On the other hand, losartan abolished Ang II(3-7) facilitation of recall of the passive avoidance, object recognition and the increase in apomorphine stereotypy. Losartan did not influence the increased rate of CARs acquisition after the peptide. None of the treatments significantly changed locomotor activity estimated in an open field. These data point to some involvement of AT1 angiotensin receptors in the behavioural activity of Ang II(3-7).     

Species-specific behavior and acquisition of avoidance behavior in rats.

Studied thigmotaxis (i.e., the tendency to run in contact with objects) in 3 experiments with a total of 54 female Long-Evans rats. Exp. I indicated that Ss became more thigmotactic and immobile following shock compared with no-shock conditions. Exp. II demonstrated that when 2 groups were required to make comparable, but different, avoidance responses, the group whose avoidance response was more closely related to the S's species-specific defensive behavior was acquired at a faster rate. The 3rd experiment indicated that the differences in the acquisition of the avoidance responses in Exp. II were not due to differences in operant rates for the 2 responses per se, since acquisition of these same 2 responses was similar under appetitive motivation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Strain differences in avoidance conditioning as a function of the classical CS-US contingency.

Examined rates of shuttle box avoidance responding in 3 strains of rats as a function of classical and instrumental contingencies in 2 experiments. Ss were a total of 126 female albino Fischer, Lewis, and Long-Evans rats. In Exp I, during classical conditioned-stimulus-unconditioned-stimulus (CS-UCS) pairings in the absence of an avoidance contingency, there were large differences between the 3 strains in rates of anticipatory responding to the CS. The same pattern of differences was observed in Exp II when the avoidance contingency was added. None of the instrumental contingencies of CS termination, UCS termination, or the avoidance contingency differentially affected the strains. Classically elicited anticipatory responses and their compatibility with the required avoidance response were viewed as central factors in both the acquisition and maintenance of skeletal avoidance responses. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of response restriction during exposure to inescapable shock upon subsequent one-way and shuttle-avoidance performance in rats.

Investigated the effects of signaled inescapable shock on subsequent avoidance performance in 3 experiments with male Holtzman rats (N = 188). Exp I indicated that prior shock exposure (PSE) facilitated 1-way and shuttle avoidance. When Ss were preshocked in a harness so that free mobility was not possible, the facilitative effects of PSE on shuttle, but not 1-way avoidance performance, were largely reduced. Exp II indicated that activity during CS periods following PSE was greater among unrestrained than restrained Ss. Exp III showed that immobilization via injection of succinylcholine chloride did not affect the facilitative effects of PSE relative to that of Ss preshocked in a harness. Results are interpreted in terms of response repertoire changes produced by PSE in conjunction with the response requirement of the avoidance task. (French summary) (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lithium chloride and avoidance of novel places.

In Exp I, 40 male hooded rats were exposed to a distinctive chamber (Chamber A, part of a 2-chamber apparatus) that was novel for half of the Ss but familiar for the other half. Each S was subsequently injected with lithium chloride or saline. In a test trial conducted 24 hrs later, all Ss were given a choice between Chamber A and Chamber B, which was novel for all Ss. The group made familiar with Chamber A and then given lithium showed a significant preference for that side or an avoidance of the novel side, a "spatial neophobia." Exp II, with 40 Ss, confirmed the spatial neophobia effect and demonstrated that it did not depend on the particular conditioning procedure used in the 1st experiment. The spatial neophobia effect was related to similar effects in the taste aversion literature and to the results of research on lithium-induced decreases in exploratory behavior. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the CGRP-induced behavior of rats

The possible role of nitric oxide (NO) in CGRP-induced passive avoidance, active avoidance, and open field behavior was tested in rats. A specific NO synthase inhibitor, N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA), was used to disrupt NO synthesis. ICV administration of 5 micrograms of L-NA reversed the action of CGRP in passive and active avoidance tests. In an open field, L-NA prevented the action of CGRP on locomotion and grooming. The inactive isomer D-NA had no effect on behavior of animals. The data suggest that NO might contribute to CGRP-induced behavior in rats.     

Ionotropic glutamate receptor subtypes activate c-fos transcription by distinct calcium-requiring intracellular signaling pathways

In this study the effects of angiotensin II (AII) angiotensin II hexapeptide [AII(1-6)] and angiotensin II pentapeptide [AII(2-6)] on the motility, stereotypy, learning of conditioned avoidance responses (CARs) and recall of a passive behavior making it possible to avoid aversive stimulation in rats, were compared. All the peptides were injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle (icv) in a dose of 1 nmol. AII caused a statistically significant increase in the number of crossings, rearings, and bar approaches in an open field whereas [AII(1-6)] and [AII(2-6)] were inactive in this test. The stereotypic behavior induced by an intraperitoneal (ip) injection of apomorphine (1 mg/kg) and amphetamine (7.5 mg/kg) was statistically significantly enhanced only in the rats which received AII icv. The application of AII, but not that of [AII(1-6)] and [AII(2-6)] resulted in a quicker acquisition of the CARs. A better recall of passive avoidance was achieved only by AII, while the fragments [AII(1-6)] and [AII(2-6)] had no effect. These findings indicate that the 1-6 and 2-6 fragments of AII do not possess a psychotropic activity like that of the parent octapeptide.     

The classroom environment and students' reports of avoidance strategies in mathematics: A multimethod study.

The relation between the learning environment (e.g., students' perceptions of the classroom goal structure and teachers' instructional discourse) and students' reported use of avoidance strategies (self-handicapping, avoidance of help seeking) and preference to avoid novelty in mathematics was examined. Quantitative analyses indicated that students' reports of avoidance behaviors varied significantly among classrooms. A perceived emphasis on mastery goals in the classroom was positively related to lower reports of avoidance. Qualitative analyses revealed that teachers in high-mastery/low-avoidance and low-mastery/high-avoidance classrooms used distinctively different patterns of instructional and motivational discourse. High incidence of motivational support was uniquely characteristic of high-mastery/ low-avoidance classrooms, suggesting that mastery goals may include an affective component. Implications of the results for both theory and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of variations in stimulus similarity and response requirement during pre-shock upon subsequent one-way active avoidance learning.

Describes 2 experiments with 48 adult male Holtzman albino rats, which examine further the stimulus and response conditions under which prior fear conditioning facilitates 1-way active avoidance acquisition. Fear in both experiments was established during passive avoidance training by administering a single 2-sec shock following a cross-through response from a white to a black compartment. Subsequent active avoidance acquisition was facilitated in Exp. I even though the response requirements of the 2 tasks were incompatible. In Exp. II reversed stimulus-shock arrangements existed in the 2 learning tasks. Facilitation of avoidance acquisition as a function of the prior task was again obtained. (French summary) (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Extinction of an avoidance response following response prevention: Some parametric investigations.

Conducted 2 experiments to investigate parameters influencing the efficacy of response prevention. In Exp. I, with 44 female hooded rats, the amount of response prevention given to Ss who had learned to avoid electric shock in an automated apparatus was systematically varied. Increasing the duration of response prevention increased its effectiveness in hastening extinction. In Exp. II, with 31 Ss, the intensity of shock used in avoidance learning was parametrically varied. More intense shock diminished the efficacy of a fixed amount of response prevention. In both experiments, S's spontaneous behavior during response prevention was systematically recorded. The cessation of fear behavior and the occurrence of relaxation during response prevention were found to predict accurately the successful extinction of the avoidance response. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

CS modality transfer of two-way avoidance in rats with central and basolateral amygdala lesions

Post-lesion acquisition of two-way avoidance and subsequent transfer to two warning signals (conditioned stimulus, CS) of different modality were investigated in 60 rats. In Experiment I the animals were originally trained with less salient (darkness) CS, then transferred to more salient compound (darkness and white noise), and finally to white noise CS. The opposite arrangement of the conditioned stimuli (CSi) during the subsequent stages was employed in Experiment II. In control animals, avoidance acquisition was faster and the intertrial responding (ITR) rate lower with the auditory than with the visual CS. Lesioned rats learned avoidance responses more slowly, independently of CS modality. The transfer to other CSi revealed dramatic between-group difference in the level and consistency of avoidance response, shuttle-box latencies and ITR rate. In control animals, transfer to more salient CSi enhanced avoidance performance, whereas change to less salient CS decreased it. Rather small changes in shuttle-box performance and consistency of avoidance response due to CS modality were seen in rats with the basolateral lesions. In contrast, central nucleus injury caused a strong deterioration in the avoidance transfer, especially when the visual CS followed the acoustic one. The results indicate differential involvement of the basolateral and central amygdala nuclei in stimulus-processing mechanisms of instrumental defensive behavior.     

Approach and avoidance coping responses among older problem and nonproblem drinkers.

The Coping Responses Inventory (CRI) was used to study coping among older problem and nonproblem drinkers. The CRI organizes coping efforts according to their focus (approach or avoidance) and method (cognitive or behavioral). Compared with nonproblem drinkers, older problem drinkers were more likely to use cognitive and behavioral avoidance responses to manage life stressors. Problem drinkers who experienced more negative life events and more severe stressors used both more approach and more avoidance coping. Those who had more financial and social resources relied more on approach and less on avoidance coping. Problem drinkers who relied more on avoidance coping tended to have more drinking problems and to report more depression and physical symptoms and less self-confidence. Positive reappraisal was associated with less depression and more self-confidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modification of the punishing effects of psychoactive drugs in rats by previous drug experience.

Reports results of 3 experiments with a total of 228 male Wistar rats. In Exp I it was shown that chronic prior exposure to amphetamine attenuated the conditioned avoidance of saccharin that was produced by both amphetamine and morphine during gustatory conditioning trials; the relationship between morphine and amphetamine was somewhat anomalous because of their pharmacological dissimilarity. The relationship was also asymmetrical, since in Exp II chronic prior exposure to morphine failed to mitigate avoidance conditioning by amphetamine but was effective in attenuating conditioning by morphine itself. In Exp III it was found that prior treatment with chlordiazepoxide attenuated saccharin avoidance conditioned by chlordiazepoxide but not by amphetamine or morphine. The findings were related to the L. Parker et al (1973) hypothesis, based on findings with morphine, concerning the development of conditioned preferences for substances associated with the repletion of artifically induced biological needs. It is suggested that findings are best interpreted as a reflection of drug tolerance rather than conditioned preference. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Avfail in color avoidance learning by starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus).

Certain unconditioned stimulus/stimuli (UCS) in flavor avoidance learning sometime become ineffective after pairings with relatively stronger UCS. This failure of avoidance learning (avfail) has been demonstrated only with rodents. The present investigations examined whether avfail might also occur with avian species, the food selection of which is guided primarily by visual cues. In Exp I, 20 male starlings were given pairings of 2 mg/kg methiocarb (a relatively weak UCS) and LiCl (a relatively strong UCS) in propylene glycol vehicle. In Exp II, 20 male red-winged blackbirds were given pairings of 2 or 4 mg/kg methiocarb (relatively weak and relatively strong UCS, respectively). Pairings were followed by a conditioning trial (UCS gavage in the presence of a color cue) and 2-choice tests. Conditioned avoidance was observed except (a) when methiocarb preceded LiCl and (b) when the low preceded the high methiocarb dose in preconditioning pairings. Exp III, with 20 Ss of each species, demonstrated that UCS habituation could not account for the results of Exps I and II. The data reflect avfail in the visual modality, and a biological implication of the results is that birds may not learn strong avoidance of aposematic prey containing varied levels of toxicant. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relative aversiveness of signaled vs. unsignaled avoidable and escapable shock situations in humans.

Conducted 2 experiments dealing with signaled and unsignaled shock, using a total of 18 male college students. In Exp I 6 Ss avoided shock, and in Exp II 12 Ss escaped shock by pressing one button under an unsignaled shock condition. By pressing on a separate button, Ss could change to signaled avoidance (Exp I) or signaled escape (Exp II). All Ss changed from the unsignaled to signaled condition whether shock was avoidable or escapable. 6 Ss were also given a chance to change from signaled to unsignaled escapable shock. Changeover responding remained at or near operant levels for these Ss. Comparing results of this study with studies using the rat revealed much similarity but some differences. Differences depended upon whether an escapable or avoidable procedure was used. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Empathy and imagery in avoidance behavior reduction.

This therapy analog study was designed to assess the relative effects of therapist empathy and instructed imagination of hierarchy scenes on avoidance behavior reduction. Ss were 30 undergraduate females who indicated "much fear," "very much fear," or "terror" on Item 39 (snakes) during a classroom-administered Fear Survey Schedule II, and who were unable to touch a live snake. After a 45-min treatment session involving (a) mechanical imagery, (b) empathetic imagery, or (c) empathetic conversation, each S completed ratings that included the 16 empathetic understanding items from the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory. Although the communication of differential therapist empathy was validated, behavior change attributable to therapist empathy was minor in comparison to the effects of imagery instructions. Imagery instructions delivered in a relatively unempathetic fashion produced as much avoidance reduction as imagery instructions delivered in an empathetic manner. Unempathetic imagery instructions also produced significantly greater avoidance reduction than the establishment of an empathetic relationship without instructed imagery exercises. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fish on prozac: Effect of serotonin reuptake inhibitors on cognition in goldfish.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 122(4) of Behavioral Neuroscience (see record 2008-09788-005). In the aforementioned article, Figures 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect. The correct figures are printed in the erratum.] The authors studied the effect of fluoxetine (a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor--SSRI) on active avoidance learning in fish. In an active, two-way, shuttle-box avoidance task we compared escape and avoidance of shock among fish receiving chronic administration of fluoxetine (Prozac), others receiving a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist (WAY 100,635; Sigma, St. Louis, MO) and controls. The receptor-blocked group performed significantly more Avoids than the fluoxetine group, which was lowest in performance, or than controls, which were slightly higher, and not significantly different from, the fluoxetine group. This conforms to results reported in rats. Active avoidance learning may be stimulated by the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. Fluoxetine-treated fish seemed less active in their home tanks than controls or blocker-treated fish. These results suggest that at the dosages used in this experiment, the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY 100,635 may have positive effects on cognition in fishes and its action may not necessarily be restricted to blockage of 5 HT reuptake inhibition. It seems that serotonin mechanisms may be highly conserved in vertebrate evolution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)