The Open Behavioral Science Journal 

About: The Open Behavioral Science Journal is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Neuropsychology & Working memory. Over the lifetime, 43 publications have been published receiving 252 citations.

The impact of anxiety on processing efficiency : implications for the attentional control theory

Abstract: The Attentional Control Theory (ACT) proposes that high-anxious individuals maintain performance effectiveness (accuracy) at the expense of processing efficiency (response time), in particular, the two central executive functions of inhibition and shifting. In contrast, research has generally failed to consider the third executive function which relates to the function of updating. In the current study, seventy-five participants completed the Parametric Go/No-Go and n-back tasks, as well as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in order to explore the effects of anxiety on attention. Results indicated that anxiety lead to decay in processing efficiency, but not in performance effectiveness, across all three Central Executive functions (inhibition, set-shifting and updating). Interestingly, participants with high levels of trait anxiety also exhibited impaired performance effectiveness on the n-back task designed to measure the updating function. Findings are discussed in relation to developing a new model of ACT that also includes the role of preattentive processes and dual-task coordination when exploring the effects of anxiety on task performance.

Anhedonia in the Shadow of Chronic Social Defeat Stress, or when the Experimental Context Matters

Abstract: One of the core symptoms of major depression in human is anhedonia. For that reason, one of the main requirements towards experimental depression models is that they be able to demonstrate anhedonia in animals, that have been exposed to stressful events, and other behavioral changes attributable to a depression-like state. However, the results presented in the literature are contradictory: sweet solution intake, which is considered as a parameter of hedonic/anhedonic behavior in animals, responds quite differently to stressful situations in that it is either unaffected or increased or decreased. Different experimental designs used for the study of anhedonia in male mice exposed to chronic social defeat stress were tried to understand the reasons for so contradictory responses. Anhedonia appears as an abrupt reduction in sweet solution consumption in stressed animals and by failure to attain recovery after deprivation. However, it was also demonstrated that sucrose solution intake and preference strongly depend on the experimental context; that the possible critical factor may be prior acquaintance with the hedonic stimulus - or the lack whereof. Analysis of literature data and ours allowed us to conclude that the lack of a significant decrease in sweet solution intake in stressed animals is no evidence of lack of depression. Furthermore this decrease is evidence of anhedonia only provided other symptoms of depression are present. Hedonic consumable intake can be decreased over various diseases, in particular, a high level of anxiety, pathological aggression or depression.

Alterations of Emotional and Cognitive Behaviors in Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and -9-Deficient Mice

Abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) function to remodel the pericellular environment, and thereby play a crucial role in the remodeling of neural circuits. In the present study, we investigated the role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in emotional and cognitive function using mice with targeted deletions of the MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes. Emotional behaviors of MMP-9-(-/-) mice but not MMP-2-(-/-) mice were altered, which was manifested in performances in the open-field and elevated plus-arm maze tests. MMP-9-(-/-) mice showed impairments in long-term object recognition memory and conditioned fear memory. MMP-2-(-/-) mice had no deficits in learning and memory. These findings suggest that endogenous MMP-9 play a role in emotional and cognitive behaviors, which may possibly be related to activity- dependent synaptic plasticity and brain development.

Questioning the "General Arousal" Models

Abstract: The paper argues that the concept of "general arousal", or Extraversion, which is used to present energetic aspects of behaviour is an oversimplification of the energetic components of temperament. Two reported studies were conducted on Russian and Canadian samples using the Structure of Temperament Questionnaire - Compact (STQ-77), which has 12 activity-specific temperament scales assessing various aspects of arousal separately in physical, verbal- social and intellectual activities. A selective pattern of correlations was found between STQ-77 scales and Locus of Control, Achieving Tendency, and time of performance in a prolonged concepts-classification experiment. This pattern suggests the benefits of considering at least three different types and aspects of arousal.