Subchronic 3, 4-methylenedioximethamphetamine (mdma) reverts anxiety induced by chronic mild stress

Here we report the effects of subchronic 3, 4-Methylenedioximethamphetamine (MDMA) on the elevated plus-maze, a widely used animal model of anxiety. Rats exposed to a mild chronic stress (MCS) protocol received intracerebroventricular microinjections of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) ��� fluoxetine (2.0ug/ul) or 3, 4-Methylenedioximethamphetamine (MDMA, 2.0ug/ul) for seven days. On the eighth day rats were tested in the elevated plus-maze. Our results showed that sub-chronic MDMA interacted with MCS leading to a decrease in anxiety-related behaviors including: percentage of open arms entries (F[2,26]=4.00; P=0.031), time spent in the open arms (F[2,26]=3.656; P=0.040) and time spent in the open arms extremities (F[2,26]=5.842; P=0.008). These results suggest a potential effect of MDMA in the reversion of the emotional significance of aversive stimuli.

Recognition of static and dynamic facial expressions: Influences of sex, type and intensity of emotion

Ecological validity of static and intense facial expressions in emotional recognition has been questioned. Recent studies have recommended the use of facial stimuli more compatible to the natural conditions of social interaction, which involves motion and variations in emotional intensity. In this study, we compared the recognition of static and dynamic facial expressions of happiness, fear, anger and sadness, presented in four emotional intensities (25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 %). Twenty volunteers (9 women and 11 men), aged between 19 and 31 years, took part in the study. The experiment consisted of two sessions in which participants had to identify the emotion of static (photographs) and dynamic (videos) displays of facial expressions on the computer screen. The mean accuracy was submitted to an Anova for repeated measures of model: 2 sexes x [2 conditions x 4 expressions x 4 intensities]. We observed an advantage for the recognition of dynamic expressions of happiness and fear compared to the static stimuli (p < .05). Analysis of interactions showed that expressions with intensity of 25 % were better recognized in the dynamic condition (p < .05). The addition of motion contributes to improve recognition especially in male participants (p < .05). We concluded that the effect of the motion varies as a function of the type of emotion, intensity of the expression and sex of the participant. These results support the hypothesis that dynamic stimuli have more ecological validity and are more appropriate to the research with emotions.

Type 2 diabetes; elderly; cognitive deficit; cognitive flexibility; executive functions Resumen

Through meditation, people become aware of what happens in the body and mind, accepting the present experiences as they are and getting a better understanding of the true nature of things. Meditation practices and its inclusion as an intervention technique, have generated great interest in identifying the brain mechanisms through which these practices operate. Different studies suggest that the practice of meditation is associated with the use of different neural networks as well as changes in brain structure and function, represented in higher concentration of gray matter structures at the hippocampus, the right anterior insula, orbital frontal cortex (OFC) and greater involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). These and other unrelated studies, shows the multiple implications of the regular practice of mindfulness in the structures and functions of the brain and its relation to certain observable and subjective states in people who practice it. Such evidence enabling the inclusion of mindfulness in psychological therapy where multiple applications have been developed to prove its effectiveness in treating affective and emotional problems, crisis management, social skills, verbal creativity, addiction and craving management, family and caregivers stress of dementia patients and others. However, neuropsychological rehabilitation has no formal proposals for intervention from these findings. The aim of this paper is to propose use of Mindfulness in neuropsychological rehabilitation process, taking the positions and theory of A.R. Luria.

Assessment of social cognition in schizophrenia through the ���Reading the Mind in the Eyes��� test. Implications for rehabilitation

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness that has effect on cognitive and social functioning of a person who suffers it. Recent research points out that social cognition subprocesses, such as Theory of Mind, social perception or emotional processing, have to do with some problems that patients show in their social adjustment. Aim: Assessing ability of recognizing mental states from facial expressions in schizophrenia patients compared to a control group. Subjects and methods: 17 stable schizophrenia patients who are aware of the illness and 17 healthy people, with the same age and sociocultural level, took the ���Reading the Mind in the Eyes��� Test Revised Version of Baron- Cohen. Results: Compared with the control group, subjects with schizophrenia showed much lower scores. Conclusions: It is confirmed that schizophrenia patients have impairments to understand facial expressions, especially from the eyes. That is typical of this illness, so it is necessary to do interventions at that point. Furthermore, inability to recognize emotions, as a domain of social cognition, contributes to deficit in functional outcome in schizophrenia. Finally, some treatment programs are put forward.

Gender differences among undergraduates in the recognition of emotional facial expressions

The perceptive accuracy of university students was compared between men and women, from sciences and humanities courses, to recognize emotional facial expressions. emotional expressions have had increased interest in several areas involved with human interaction, reflecting the importance of perceptive skills in human expression of emotions for the effectiveness of communication. Two tests were taken: one was a quick exposure (0.5 s) of 12 faces with an emotional expression, followed by a neutral face. subjects had to tell if happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust or surprise was flashed, and each emotion was shown twice, at random. on the second test 15 faces with the combination of two emotional expressions were shown without a time limit, and the subject had to name one of the emotions of the previous list. in this study, women perceived sad expressions better while men realized more happy faces. there was no significant difference in other emotions detection like anger, fear, surprise, disgust. Students of humanities and sciences areas of both sexes, when compared, had similar capacities to perceive emotional expressions

Current status of knowledge about suicide in people with cancer

Aim: To review the current knowledge about suicide in cancer patients. Method: We searchedspecialized databases using keywords for articles published in the last two decades (1990-2010),and compiled and reviewed them in order to: indicate the prevalence of suicide in cancer patientsworldwide and in Colombia, differentiating the data by sex and age; establish the types of cancerthat are associated with suicide, identify risk factors for committing or considering suicide andpresent the strategies of professional and psychological intervention directed at cancer patientswith suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The present article is a review of the information on thesubject. Results: We found that: in cancer patients, the suicide rate is two times higher thanin the general population; depression, suicidal ideation and location of cancer are some of therisk factors for suicide, and there is a lack of published guidelines for professional managementof the suicidal patient with cancer. Conclusion: The need to carry out research on the topic ofsuicide in cancer patients was established.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and primary dysmenorrhea: a case report

Primary dysmenorrhea is pelvic pain during the menstrual cycle. The A delta and C fibers aresensitized by the increased release of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, thus causing pain. TransElectric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a physiotherapeutic strategy that mitigatespain sensation. Objective: The aim of this paper is to present six cases of women in childbearingage who were diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea and received transcutaneous electricnerve stimulation. Materials and methods: A type of study, case report, was conducted with sixwomen between 15 and 25 years of age with medical diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea. Weassessed pain intensity utilizing the visual analogue pain scale and located the pain by usinga pain test map. Results: Pain intensity decreased in all treated women. Conclusion: Transcutaneouselectric nerve stimulation (TENS) is a physiotherapeutic strategy that mitigates painsensation. We conclude that high frequency TENSis a safe noninvasive modality to achievereduction of pain in primary dysmenorrhea.

The Role of Kinaesthetic Motor Imagery in Promoting Activation of the Lumbrical Muscles in the Hemiparetic Hand: a Randomised Controlled Study

The objective of the investigation who gave as result this work was to investigate the effectiveness of kinaesthetic motor imagery in the activation of the hemiplegic hand muscles following stroke. The experiment consisted of two random groups. Movements were measured after treatment. The participants were ten patients with hemiplegic hands (men who mean age was 74.4 years; mean time since stroke 3.05 months). All patients received three sessions of physical treatment based on an identical treatment protocol. Five patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group practising kinaesthetic motor imagery of a grasp using the 'lumbrical action' (experimental group). The others five (control group) followed a relaxation script. All the patients were then asked to grasp an object using the 'lumbrical action'. The grasps were recorded using an optoelectronic motion capture system. The magnitude of the extension of the index finger and the correlation of the angular displacement of the proximal phalangeal joints and the metacarpophalangeal joints were calculated. The movement time for the whole grip was calculated. The experimental group demonstrated higher extension in the index finger (p = < 0.01) and they had a higher correlation coefficient (0.99) than the control group (0.77) for the displacement of the proximal interphalangeal joint and the metacarpophalangeal joints. The movement time for the experimental group was faster, although the difference was not significant.

Consumer Neuroscience as a reserach issue, concepts and applications. A paradigmatic approach

Consumer neuroscience allows a fullest and objective understanding about desires andactions of consumers, turning itself in a fickle tool to the use of the companies and to improve their Marketing strategies. The use of the Neuroscientific methods to the analysis, description and comprehension of human behavior related to consume open a lot of unknown possibilities to discover. Neuromarketing or The consumer Neuroscience as is known too is the study of mental process been part of the consumer behavior and contexts concerning the marketing as well, apply and follow in the environment of the real life of human been. Its supported by the paradigms and the technological development of Neurosciences whose progress has made possible for the seekers to deep in knowledge abouthow the brain work. Physiological operations of mind are a product of a structural and functional ensemble including the brain, as organ, and mind, emotion and cognition, asfunctions. Mind events just can be understood in the middle of the interaction between the organism and his environment. Neuromarketing paradigm it���s still in his infancy and whatfor it���s full of research possibilities. Inside the consumer neuroscience the ethic building doesn���t collapse, the morality isn���t threaten, inside the normal individual Will it���s alwaysWill. The present paper looking for a place to the consumer neuroscience paradigm over the perspective of research open to the Marketing, from the technological advances and hermeneutical vision offer by Neuroscience; it���s propose some of several possibilities ofresearch and practice been explored actually. To give an example its offer one of methods of research as is the Evoked Potentials.

Mobilidade espacial nas Metr��poles Brasileiras: complexidade do espa��o urbano

As transforma����es na din��mica demogr��fica ocorrida nas ��ltimas d��cadas nos espa��os urbanos passam, em grande medida, pela reconfigura����o territorial, econ��mica e social das ��reas metropolitanas, na qual os movimentos das pessoas exercem influ��ncia fundamental. Para este trabalho, propomos uma abordagem sobre o movimento migrat��rio intra-metropolitano em 14 ��reas metropolitanas brasileiras, quais sejam: Bel��m, Belo Horizonte, Bras��lia, Campinas, Curitiba, Florian��polis, Fortaleza, Goi��nia, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, S��o Paulo e Vit��ria; questionamos se este fen��meno estaria alterando a hist��rica ���press��o pelas ��reas centrais metropolitanas��� ou se essa popula����o est�� mudando de resid��ncia, mas continua trabalhando no n��cleo. Pensando sobre os movimentos da popula����o ocupada nas regi��es metropolitanas, buscamos ainda considerar os tipos de movimentos realizados (n��cleo-periferia; periferia-n��cleo e periferia-periferia) com uma caracteriza����o desta popula����o. Portanto, nossa reflex��o est�� relacionada ��s diferentes l��gicas que operam sobre o lugar de moradia das pessoas e os lugares de outros fazeres que determinam a vida urbana, especialmente o lugar de trabalho. A localização dos postos de trabalho em ��reas mais ���centrais��� e a quantidade consider��vel de pessoas que se deslocam para estes munic��pios tamb��m s��o fen��menos expressivos ainda. Ser�� que os movimentos cotidianos podem se apresentar como uma alternativa para a resid��ncia em outras ��reas da metr��pole e o trabalho nas ��reas centrais? Nossa proposta �� a de que esses processos precisam ser analisados cada vez mais em conjunto com a migra����o intra-metropolitana.

La movilidad residencial de los hogares con bajos ingresos y jefatura femenina en el ��rea

En este art��culo se analizan algunos aspectos de la movilidad residencial de los hogares con bajos ingresos y jefatura femenina en el ��rea metropolitana de Bogot��. Para ello, se examinan los datos producidos por la encuesta de movilidad 2009 y una serie de entrevistas realizadas en el Proyecto ���Metr��polis de Am��rica Latina en la globalizaci��n: reconfiguraciones territoriales, movilidad espacial, acci��n p��blica���, Metal. Se presenta un contexto a partir de algunos indicadores censales y, en seguida, algunos resultados de la encuesta: en primer lugar, caracter��sticas de las jefas de hogar como edad, estado conyugal, ocupaci��n, grado educativo; posteriormente, sobre las zonas donde residen, en particular, su localizaci��n en el ��rea metropolitana y la morfolog��a del barrio. Por ��ltimo, aspectos como la tenencia, el tipo de vivienda, la localizaci��n de las redes familiares y el ciclo vital del hogar.

Narraci��n, emociones e identidad. Una lectura epistemol��gica y hermen��utica

El prop��sito de este art��culo es presentar tres argumentos en torno al papel que las emociones y los procesos de narraci��n tienen en la construcci��n de la identidad moral. En primer lugar, se sugiere que la comprensi��n cartesiana de la identidad moderna rechaza el valor que las emociones y los sentimientos tienen en la formulaci��n de juicios normativos. En este sentido, se argumentar�� que necesitamos una perspectiva epistemol��gica distinta. En segundo lugar, se revisar�� la relaci��n existente entre la identidad narrativa y las tres formas de la m��mesis en Tiempo y narraci��n. Nuestro an��lisis tiene el prop��sito de mostrar la importancia que porque se argumentar�� que el punto de vista hermen��utico abre la puerta a un horizonte distinto de la acci��n humana que incluye las emociones y los sentimientos. Finalmente, se expondr�� el concepto de frameworks en el pensamiento de Charles Taylor, por la siguiente raz��n: la noci��n frameworks nos proporciona un punto de articulaci��n entre la cuesti��n de la identidad y la teor��a hermen��utica sobre los conceptos mencionados y el sentido de la vida.---Narrative, emotions and identity. An epistemological and hermeneutical readingThe purpose of this article is to explain three arguments about the role that emotions and the process of narration have in the construction of moral identity. First, I suggest that Cartesian comprehension of modern identity rejects the value that emotions and feelings have in formulations of normative judgments. In this sense I will argue that we need a different epistemological perspective. Second, I will review the relation between narrative identity and the three forms of mimesis in Time and Narrative. Our inquiry into them has the purpose of showing the importance that they have in many basic fields of application in social science, because I consider that the hermeneutical point of view opens the gate to a comprehensive perspective of human action, and it includes emotions and feelings. Finally, I will expose the concept of ���Frameworks��� in Charles Taylor��s thought for the following reason: ���Frameworks��� provides a point of articulation between question of identity and hermeneutical theory about the emotions, feelings and meaning of live.Key words: narrative identity, hermeneutical theory, emotions, feelings, normative judgments---Narra����o, emoções e identidade. Uma leitura epistemol��gica e hermen��uticaO prop��sito deste artigo �� apresentar tr��s argumentos em torno ao papel que as emoções e os processos de narra����o t��m na constru����o da identidade moral. Em primeiro lugar se sugere que a compreens��o cartesiana da identidade moderna recusa o valor que as emoções e os sentimentos t��m na formula����o de ju��zos normativos. Neste sentido, se argumentar�� que necessitamos uma perspectiva epistemol��gica diferente. Em segundo lugar, se revisar�� a rela����o existente entre a identidade narrativa e as tr��s formas da mimese em Tempo e narra����o. Nossa an��lise tem o prop��sito de mostrar a import��ncia que estas no����es t��m em diferentes campos de aplica����o das ci��ncias sociais, porque se argumentar�� que o ponto de vista hermen��utico abre a porta a um horionte distinto da a����o humana que inclui as emoções e os sentimentos. Finalmente, se expor�� o conceito de frameworks no pensamento de Charles Taylor, pela seguinte raz��o: a no����o frameworks nos proporciona um ponto de articula����o entre a quest��o da identidade e a teoria hermen��utica sobre os conceitos mencionados e o sentido da vida.Palavras chave: Identidade narrativa, teoria hermen��utica, emoções, sentimentos, ju��zos normativos.