Influência de fotoperíodo artificial no comportamento de um primata neotropical diurno (Callithrix jacchus)

One of the main environmental cues for the adjustment of temporal organization of the animals is the light-dark cycle (LD), which undergoes changes in phase duration throughout the seasons. Photoperiod signaling by melatonin in mammals allows behavioral changes along the year, as in the activity-rest cycle, in mood states and in cognitive performance. The aim of this study was to investigate if common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) exhibits behavioral changes under short and long photoperiods in a 24h cycle, assessing their individual behaviors, vocal repertoire, exploratory activity (EA), recognition memory (RM) and the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity (CRA). Eight adult marmosets were exposed to a light-dark cycle of 12:12; LD 08:16; LD 12:12 and LD 16:08, sequentially, for four weeks in each condition. Locomotor activity was recorded 24h/day by passive infrared motion detectors above the individual cages. A video camera system was programmed to record each animal, twice a week, on the first two light hours. From the videos, frequency of behaviors was registered as anxiety-like, grooming, alert, hanging position, staying in nest box and feeding using continuous focal animal sampling method. Simultaneously, the calls emitted in the experimental room were recorded by a single microphone centrally located and categorized as affiliative (whirr, chirp), contact (phee), long distance (loud shrill), agonistic (twitter) and alarm (tsik, seep, see). EA was assessed on the third hour after lights onset on the last week of each condition. In a first session, marmosets were exposed to one unfamiliar object during 15 min and 24h later, on the second session, a novel object was added to evaluate RM. Results showed that long days caused a decreased of amplitude and period variance of the CRA, but not short days. Short days decreased the total daily activity and active phase duration. On long days, active phase duration increased due to an advance of activity onset in relation to symmetric days. However, not all subjects started the activity earlier on long days. The activity offset was similar to symmetric days for the majority of marmosets. Results of EA showed that RM was not affected by short or long days, and that the marmosets exhibited a decreased in duration of EA on long days. Frequency and type of calls and frequency of anxiety-like behaviors, staying in nest box and grooming were lower on the first two light hours on long days. Considering the whole active phase of marmosets as we elucidate the results of vocalizations and behaviors, it is possible that these changes in the first two light hours are due to the shifting of temporal distribution of marmoset activities, since some animals did not advance the activity onset on long days. Consequently, the marmosets mean decreased because the sampling was not possible. In conclusion, marmosets synchronized the CRA to the tested photoperiods and as the phase angle varied a lot among marmosets it is suggested that they can use different strategies. Also, long days had an effect on activity-rest cycle and exploratory behaviors

Sinalização cromática da condição reprodutiva de fêmeas de segui comum (Callithrix jacchus)

As social animals, primates use different sensory modalities (acoustic, chemical, tactile and visual) to convey information about social and sexual status to conspecifics. Among these modalities, visual signals are widely used, especially color signals, since primates are the mammalian group that displays the greatest variety of colors in their skin and fur. Studies with Old World primate species suggest that hormonal variations are related to variations in the colors of individual faces and genitals. Therefore, chromatic cues can be used by conspecifics to identify the reproductive condition of an individual. To date, studies with the same approach are unknown for New World species. However, behavioral and physiological studies suggest that different New World primate species seem to perceive reproductive conditions such as the timing of female conception and gestation. Thus, in this study, our aim was to: i) identify whether there are chromatic cues on the skin of female common marmosets, (Callithrix jacchus) that indicate their reproductive condition; ii) define whether this chromatic variation can be perceived by all visual phenotypes known in this species; iii) identify if these chromatic cues can be perceived under different light intensity levels (dim, intermediate and high). For this, we selected 13 female common marmosets in four distinct reproductive conditions: pregnant female preceding parturition, postpartum mothers, noncycling and cycling females. The coloration of the skin in genital and thigh areas in females was measured using a spectrophotometer. Using mathematical models of visual perception, we calculated the values of quantum catch for each photoreceptor type known in this species, the visual opponency channels and color contrast between those body spots. Our results indicate the occurance of chromatic variations in the genital area during the weeks that precede and follow parturition, forming a U-pattern of variation perceptible to males and females in natural conditions of low and high luminosity. Furthermore, we observed distinct color patterns in the genital skin of pregnant and cycling females that indicate their reproductive conditions. Finally, we present evidence of color contrast in noncycling females that is higher than that of pregnant ones. This study suggests that there is a chromatic xii variation in the genital skin of females that can be perceived by conspecifics and that may be related to hormonal changes typical of pregnancy and the ovarian cycle

Comportamento de mergulho do boto-cinza, Sotalia guianensis, na enseada do Curral, Praia de Pipa-RN, Brasil :possíveis adaptações cardíacas ao mergulho

The marine tucuxi, Sotalia guianensis, is one of the smallest known cetaceans, has coastal habits, and occurs from Hondures to Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil. The objective of this dissertation was to describe diving behavior of the marine tucuxi in three age classes and to analyze the cardiac capacity to dive through the examination of hearts of stranded specimens. Observations were made from October 2004 to November 2005 from a vantage point, in Curral Bay at Pipa beach-RN. We used Ad Libitum sampling and All occurrences to record the behaviors. The diving was characterized by the total exposition of the tail fluke for a few seconds, in 90° or 45° angles. Were recorded 131 dives in three behavioral contexts: foraging, traveling and socialization. The difference between juveniles and adults in dive time and fluke out at 45° or 90° to search and/or capture prey is probably influenced by the strategy used and ability to capture the prey. The frequency of fluke out at 90° for foraging in adults may be related to increased physiological efficiency of adults in comparison to juveniles. However, in the context of travel and socialization the dive time and fluke out were independent between the age classes. Dive in calves were frequent during socialization (play behavior) and traveling. This, associated with synchronic calve-adult diving suggests that a relationship of these behaviors and the acquisition of experience and foraging skills. As observed in other cetaceans, the heart (n=12) of the estuarine dolphin is broad and presents long ventricles which form a round apex. The right ventricle is long and narrow. The degree of dilatation of the aortic bulb may support the heart during diastole. The characteristic morphology of the heart and short dive duration < 2 min and depth ranged from 10m in the estuarine dolphin, can be likely at physiological adaptation for diving, typical de dolphins with coastal habits. The limitation of diving time in this specie may be influenced by anatomical and physiological restrictions

Estilos de aprendizagem sob a ótica da Psicologia Evolucionista

Among a variety of learning conceptions, David Kolb´s Experiential Learning Theory proposes four different learning styles: diverging, characterized by orientation towards people and multi-perspective vision; assimilating, concerned with ideas and abstract concepts as well as theory formulation; converging, expert in dealing with technical tasks and problem solving; and accommodating, risk taker and good at getting things done. Interesting correlations have been pointed out between Kolb s learning styles, professional careers and genders. With respect to behaviors, specific cognitive skills and interests, sex differences are widely known, and explained by Evolutionary Psychology as the result of distinct selective pressures acting on each gender. The aim of this research was to assess adolescents learning styles and their relation with interests on school and career choices, analyzing possible gender differences. We distributed questionnaires to 221 senior high school students to research their preferences for school disciplines, professional activities and career choices. The Learning Style Inventory specified the learning style of each individual. Our results showed a high frequency of reflective styles, with predominance of females as diverging and males as assimilating. Concerning school and professional interests, there were correlations between styles oriented towards the abstract and technical interests. Moreover, females preferred disciplines related to languages and interpersonal activities while males preferred disciplines related to science and technical activities. There were more males in exact science and engineering careers, and more females in social science and applied social science. Correlations found between learning styles, school and professional interests corroborate Kolb´s propositions, and the findings about gender differences are supported by Evolutionary Psychology theories

Motivações para adoção: uma perspectiva da Psicologia Evolucionista

Parental investment increases the offspring s survival, though it decreases the opportunities for the parents to invest in a future progeny. In a broad sense, this investment is directed to one s own descendant, but in some cases, such as in adoption, resources are directed to non-relatives even in the absence of fitness benefits. Once there are many factors involved in adoption, this study investigated adopters candidates, aiming to analyze aspects considered by them for adopting, based on the Evolutionary Psychology s perspective. We analyzed the judicial proceedings´ files people who had been inlisted for adoption at the 2ª Childhood and Adolescence Law Court, Natal-RN. The adopter s motivations were classified into biological or social reasons. A relationship between adopters´ age and kind of motivation was found: requirements of young people were related to biological reasons while requirements of the old ones were related to social reasons. Fertility, mainly female requirer´s fertility, underlie this relationship, considering that women fertility is strongly influenced by age. The reasons to adopt were also related to the age of the desired child, once that people who wanted children older than 25 months alleged social reasons while those that wanted younger babies alleged biological reasons. There are lots of motives to adopt a child, but the phenomenon of adoption is broadly acknowledged by society as an act of love and the adoptive parents are often regarded as kind and generous people. It was observed, instead, that the reasons to adopt comes from the adopters themselves, related to the fulfillment of personal needs, such as increasing the family, carrying out mother/father role or having a company or someone to care form them in elderly age

Comportamento sócio-espacial de pessoas em movimento :um estudo exploratório no calçadão da Avenida Engenheiro Roberto Freire

People-environment interaction, focus of Environmental Psychology studies, presupposes that space influences behavior and vice-versa. Despite of the importance of dynamic reciprocity, there are a few works that treat the mobility condition of the people experimenting space. The present study investigates environmental perception of users of the Engenheiro Roberto Freire Avenue sidewalk, one of the few places in Natal for physical activities practicing, where most people are in intense and continuous movement. A few questions for this study where made: In what way does the individual realize the environment while he is moving? How do reciprocal man-environment relations occur there, according to a mobility context? What are the main difficulties and easiness in man-environment interaction under this condition? The search for these answers is based on concepts of social-spatial human behavior - especially personal space, territoriality, density and crowding and contributions of Barker´s Ecologycal Psychology. Considering that the physical space in this case is multifaceted and the perception of theses scenarios is governed by multiples senses and stimuli, it was defined a multi-methodological route: (i) observation participative in loco; (ii) identification of the main behavior settings at the area; (iii) categorization of the activities occurring at the place; (iv) application of a semi-structured interview; (v) images registered and (vi) construction of the researcher s log. The perception of oneself and others in movement in the environment, immersed in a intricate web of inter-actions, makes people develop mobility strategies, many times unconsciously, with the aim of ensuring satisfaction in its activities. Since the Eng. Roberto Freire Avenue sidewalk is an equipment public-urban largely used by the population of Natal, the reflection of the mobility effectiveness in the users environmental perception is expected, providing suggestions for future studies in this field of knowledge

Sexo não é brincadeira: o sentido de infância para adolescentes inseridas na exploração sexual comercial

The childhood has being highlighted by the great concern about the several contexts in which children are inserted, amongst them, commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). The experience of this violence process brings implications to the person constitution. Thus, this research aimed to understand how commercial sexual exploited adolescents to signify the childhood. Participated of this research four female adolescents that had been assisted by Programa de enfrentamento ao Abuso e Exploração Sexual de Crianças e Adolescentes (Sentinela) , with ages between 12 and 17 years. The corpus was composed by the combination of the semi-structured interview and other procedures, like childish stories, draws and photography. Moreover, we used another instruments to constitute the corpus, like the documental research and we proposed the construction of a life story book of each participant. The corpus was analyzed through the Thematic Content Analysis. Five thematic axes emerged from the participants discourse and theoretical perspective: dynamical of family, scholar process, ludic behavior, conception of childhood and insertion on CSE process. The participants presented a conception about childhood as been a preparation and education phase to ingress in adult life. In other words, while children do not grown up, they go to the school, plays, lives with family, are happy and do not have any responsibilities. Nevertheless, the life experience of these girls was implicated by negligence, sexual abuse, child labor, institutionalization and, evidently, the commercial sexual exploitation. Understanding that the childhood experienced by adolescent, as well as, her insertion on CSECA, constitutes her, while person, we investigated how the interrelation expresses it on participants future perspectives. Their goals are defined based on family constitution and professional improvement, although feelings of disillusion and pessimism had been showed up in some moments. According these results, we pointed to the necessity of the effective proposals that promote real improvement of adolescents life quality, through, in which they could to create alternatives to get over the several risks in which they are exposed, mainly, the CSECA condition

Crianças no pátio escolar :a utilização dos espaços e o comportamento infantil no recreio

The interest for understanding the relationship of the child with its environment has increased in the whole world during the last few years. Several researchers, using Environmental Psychology as basis, have analyzed the implications of this relation for the child development and the organization of playful spaces. Being a place where children spend a great part of their time and develop many intellectual and social abilities, the school becomes one of the main focus of this research. This study investigated different sectors of the outdoor area of NEI -UFRN, during the recreation time, in which the use of space and the interaction between children were analyzed, through the observation of the child behavior (place-centered and individual-centered mapping). The results had disclosed that the school s outdoor area and its equipments presents a great range of choices possible to the children, however its occupation is not uniform: there are areas very used and others almost without use. Generally, this heterogeneity happens again in relation to the distribution of the interaction states in the sectors, the friendly associative behavior being the most present. The observation of children behaviors favored a better understanding of the use of the spaces, and contributed for discussion about the environment what these users really need for a healthy development, including differences in related to gender, age and daytime. In spite of the studied outdoor areas being vast, pleasant and varied, it needs a better distribution of its equipments and a plan that allows greater children participation in the place organization

A constituição da identidade em crianças vítimas de abuso sexual

Subject s identity is constituted in the relation with the other, which is characterized by dialeticity, and is configured as an identification and/or recognize movement, and strangeness and/or distance. In social interactions, people with whom subject relates himself assign meanings to him and, from these, the subject will ressignify, producing sense about himself. In other words, is through these interactions that subjects organizes themselves, recognize what is yours, and acquire the sense about themselves. It can be highlighted, too, the social-historic context s importance in the self-constitution process, whereas, from this, the subject produces particular forms of perception about reality charged with cultural meaning. Thus, the self-conception, the manners of thinking, of being, of relates, of take position against experiences, coming from values internalization, roles and related, are permeated by the manner witch the others relates themselves with the subject. However, when the relation with the other happens to be in a violent way, like in children sexual abuse, there are implications in the subjects constitution, whereas violates his physical and psychological integrities, as well as the rights of dignity, respect and even healthy physical, psychological and sexual developments. Therefore, this work aims to investigate how the identity process is constituted in children victims of sexual abuse. As specific aims the research proposes: 1) to characterize the relations between child and abuser, before and after the abuse act; 2) to identify images that the subjects, abuse victims, have about themselves and; 3) to identify the features of subject s relation with their own body. Toward this aims, procedures involving drawings, painting, collage, photography, activities with cardboard, colored pens, glue and tissue snips. The research took place at the Social Assistance Specialized Reference Center, where there is the treatment of children who suffered of rights violation, which includes sexual abuse. The research subjects were 3 girl children, between 6 and 10 years old, victims of sexual abuse. The corpus analyses was done through Thematic Content Analysis, structured in three meaning nucleus: 1) self-reference without the explicit attendance of other s discourse; 2) self-reference with the explicit attendance of other s discourse; 3) The other abuser. The analysis indicates that children, research subjects, have deteriorated images about themselves, about their bodies, which is consistent with the studies in the children and adolescents sexual violence field. In the other hand, were identified, too, self-references with positive values in the cases with mention about their way-of-being, which can be read as important to subject s development. About the other s discourse towards the subjects, were identified positive observations and found that these can contribute to subject s self-image reorganization. The contribution of negative comments, on the other hand, was showed in a more clear and incisive form in subject s constitution. There is, yet, an overvaluation of the other s discourse, so the meanings attributed toward them by the other are internalized, overshadowing the self-appreciation. To conclude, it can be highlighted that the need of psychological accompaniment of the children victims of sexual abuse, based on the possibility of this trauma experience elaboration, trying to overcome, as well as can be expected that this research s results contributes to the practices of professionals who work with subjects who have their rights violated

Protagonismo juvenil :um estudo da particição social dos adolescentes nos programas de saúde sexual e reprodutiva em Natal/RN

The study does a analysis about the social participation of teenagers in the healthy sexual and reproductive Programs in Natal/RN city, in the perspective of Protagonism Juvenile, that presuppose the teenager condition like main actor and subject of the right and obligations. In front of this, the aim this search is to discuss and analyse the juvenile protagonism and theirpolitic , pedagogics and soscial means, to go off on to the participation of teenagers like social subject in the healthy sexual and reproductive Programs in Natal/Rn city. The way to the teoric reflexion this study privileged the approach historic-member, being assisted by quality methodology, to making useful an interview semistructured with teenagers, families and co-ordinators of the Programs. The social participation of the teenagers, in these programs, reaffirm itself like a proposal politic-pedagogical that contribute to the development of competences of the teenagers and improvement of habilities in the treatment of the questions about heathy sexual and reprodutive,valorizing the condition of the social subjects, in the perspective of the protagonism juvenile. The relevance this study to be detached by the contribution in the building and implementation of the programs politic-pedagogical, that affirm to the teenagers the condition of the right and obligations

Comportamento locomotor de crianças e adultos jovens em ambiente doméstico simulado

Observamos o comportamento locomotor de 40 crianças (de 5 a 8 anos) e de 40 adultos jovens (de 19 a 28 anos) frente a restrições ambientais, que percorreram dois circuitos em condições de luminosidade total e reduzida e transporte de carga (sem carga, 3% e 7% da massa corporal), andando o mais rápido possível e evitando contato com objetos. O tempo gasto na tarefa foi obtido por meio de um cronômetro digital, em três tentativas por condição. ANOVA para três fatores (circuito x iluminação x carga) revelou que: as crianças demoraram mais tempo para realizar a tarefa quando carga foi adicionada; crianças mais jovens percorreram o circuito em tempo maior que crianças mais velhas; as condições não alteraram a locomoção dos adultos. Concluímos que crianças necessitam integrar as informações sensoriais e acoplá-las ao sistema efetor. Programas de intervenção são necessários para facilitar essa integração sem restrição da mobilidade das crianças.

Comportamento e barreiras

Este estudo analisa as barreiras percebidas à prática de atividade física e os estágios de mudança de comportamento de idosos institucionalizados preservados cognitivamente. Trinta participantes responderam ao Mini-Exame do Estado Mental, ao Questionário sobre Estágios de Mudança de Comportamento e ao Questionário sobre Barreiras à Prática de Atividade Física. Os resultados mostraram que poucos idosos institucionalizados apresentam uma alta percepção de descrença nos benefícios da atividade física. Entretanto, muito poucos praticam atividades físicas e a maioria não pretende incluí-las em seu estilo de vida. O estágio de comportamento no qual se encontram pode estar sendo mediado pela percepção de barreiras. Conclui-se, coerentemente com as principais barreiras reportadas, que a promoção de atividade física para o idoso institucionalizado deve, prioritariamente, enfatizar a conscientização sobre os riscos do sedentarismo e os benefícios da prática mesmo na presença de doenças, bem como preparar um ambiente seguro e sem gasto financeiro individual.

Abrigos diurnos, composição de colônias, dimorfismo sexual e reprodução do morcego hematófago Desmodus rotundus (E. Geoffroy) (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Embora informações acerca da composição das colônias do morcego hematófago Desmodus rotundus (E. Geoffroy, 1810) sejam importantes para o controle de suas populações, poucos estudos a esse respeito foram desenvolvidos no Brasil. São apresentadas aqui informações obtidas de colônias de D. rotundus encontradas em 12 abrigos diurnos no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, em 1999 e 2000. em geral, os abrigos naturais e artificiais não possuíam grandes dimensões e estruturalmente variaram entre si. O formato dos abrigos interferiu na distribuição dos indivíduos das colônias no interior dos abrigos. Essas colônias continham, em média, 130 indivíduos distribuídos em três locais no interior dos abrigos. Havia também diversos indivíduos vivendo isolados ou em pequenos grupos dispersos. A proporção entre os sexos dos morcegos capturados foi de 1 macho: 1,37 fêmeas e, em sua maioria, os morcegos capturados eram adultos (89%). Dimorfismo sexual foi verificado estatisticamente no comprimento dos antebraços e na massa corporal, sendo as fêmeas maiores que os machos. A maior parte dos machos adultos (87%) estava sexualmente ativo, mas 65,5% das fêmeas adultas não estavam grávidas.

Efeitos de modelagem do comportamento verbal e de instruções sobre o comportamento de encaixar peças

Pesquisas têm demonstrado diferenças nos efeitos dos comportamentos verbais modelado e instruído sobre o comportamento verbal e não-verbal. Este estudo investigou efeitos da modelagem do comportamento verbal e das instruções sobre o comportamento verbal (falar sobre encaixar peças) e o não-verbal (encaixar peças azuis e vermelhas, grandes e pequenas e quadradas e circulares) de 10 crianças, entre 8 e 9 anos de idade. A coleta de dados foi realizada em duas condições com cinco participantes. Condição 1: modelagem do comportamento verbal. Condição 2: apresentação de instruções para o comportamento não-verbal. Quando ocorreu a modelagem do comportamento verbal foram observadas mudanças correspondentes no comportamento não-verbal. As instruções produziram imediata adesão do comportamento não-verbal e, na seqüência, o desempenho foi alterado. Esses dados reafirmam a importância de ampliar o conhecimento dos efeitos da modelagem do comportamento verbal e das instruções sobre o comportamento de crianças em jogos como o utilizado nesta pesquisa.

Adolescentes em situação de prostituição: uma análise sobre a exploração sexual comercial na sociedade contemporânea

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo principal compreender os processos que conduzem à produção da exploração sexual comercial de adolescentes na sociedade contemporânea. Realizamos uma análise da literatura da área e um estudo de campo, que contou com a participação de 14 adolescentes do sexo feminino, que se encontravam em situação de prostituição. Foram utilizados como procedimentos metodológicos: aplicação de questionários-entrevista, realização de entrevistas abertas, observações e informações de educadoras sociais. Elaboramos o perfil sócio-demográfico das adolescentes e suas famílias e criamos categorias temáticas expressivas dos conteúdos identificados. Constatamos que na produção do fenômeno encontram-se presentes múltiplos fatores que se entrecruzam de forma sinérgica nas trajetórias de vida das adolescentes. Ações de enfrentamento ao fenômeno requerem ações macro-estruturais e focais, nos mostrando a necessidade de repensarmos as concepções sobre os direitos das crianças e adolescentes, vivência de sexualidade, valores culturais e sociais, que acabam por permitir a emergência e perpetuação da exploração sexual comercial de crianças e adolescentes.