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Structure and function in the developing brain: Effects of early frontal and cerebellar lesions on activity, learning, social and emotional behavior in the rat
Title
Structure and function in the developing brain: Effects of early frontal and cerebellar lesions on activity, learning, social and emotional behavior in the rat.
Creator
Stevenson, Bernadette Mietus, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description
Autism, characterized by disrupted social interaction and communication skills, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), characterized by hyperactivity and inattention, are two neurodevelopmental disorders that have recently been linked to common dysfunctions in the frontal lobes and cerebellum. The present study was designed to evaluate the neonatal rat as an animal model for neurodevelopmental disorders. The behavior of rats with early Frontal (FR), Cerebellar (CB), or Frontal +...
Show moreAutism, characterized by disrupted social interaction and communication skills, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), characterized by hyperactivity and inattention, are two neurodevelopmental disorders that have recently been linked to common dysfunctions in the frontal lobes and cerebellum. The present study was designed to evaluate the neonatal rat as an animal model for neurodevelopmental disorders. The behavior of rats with early Frontal (FR), Cerebellar (CB), or Frontal + Cerebellar (FR + CB) lesions, performed at either Post-natal Day 2 (PD 2) or 9 (PD 9), was evaluated with regard to activity, learning, social, and emotional behavior between the age of 3--31 days. In Experiment 1, 3 and 10-day-old pups were tested on their ability to habituate to a novel odor. FR lesions increased activity in 3-days-olds while CB, and FR + CB lesions disrupted odor habituation learning in 10-day-olds. In Experiment 2, 17-day-old pups were evaluated on activity in the open-field and ability to habituate to a novel environment. FR lesions resulted in increased locomotor activity while CB lesions resulted in increased grooming, a stereotypical behavior. Pups with PD 9 CB lesions also failed to habituate to the novel environment of the open-field. In Experiment 3, 24-day-old juveniles were evaluated on social behavior in the play test, as measured by frequency of pinning behavior. FR lesions increased levels of play behavior while CB lesions decreased play. In Experiment 4, 31-day-old juveniles were evaluated on emotionality in the elevated plus maze as measured by the number of distal open arms entries. Rats with CB lesions made twice as many distal open arm entries relative to the other lesioned groups; however, this result did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that the effects of early frontal and cerebellar lesions can be dissociated on several different behavioral measures in young rats. Furthermore, neonatal rats with frontal and cerebellar lesions exhibit several behaviors during ontogeny that mimic those seen in children with ADHD and autism, such as hyperactivity and disrupted social interaction. The neonatal rat may thus prove to be a useful animal model for childhood neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Date Issued
2001
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11956
Subject Headings
Psychology, Psychobiology, Psychology, Developmental, Psychology, Physiological
Format
Document (PDF)
Why rush growing up? A test of the cognitive immaturity hypothesis
Title
Why rush growing up? A test of the cognitive immaturity hypothesis.
Creator
Rosenberg, Justin S., Florida Atlantic University, Bjorklund, David F.
Abstract/Description
This study examined the hypothesis that cognitive immaturity may serve an adaptive purpose for children at a time in ontogeny when they are not capable of ensuring their own survival. Participants were presented pairs of scenarios of 3- and 9-year-old children expressing either immature or mature cognition. Participants were asked to select the child (immature vs. mature) which best reflected each of 11 different psychological traits that were ultimately grouped into 3 trait dimensions: cute,...
Show moreThis study examined the hypothesis that cognitive immaturity may serve an adaptive purpose for children at a time in ontogeny when they are not capable of ensuring their own survival. Participants were presented pairs of scenarios of 3- and 9-year-old children expressing either immature or mature cognition. Participants were asked to select the child (immature vs. mature) which best reflected each of 11 different psychological traits that were ultimately grouped into 3 trait dimensions: cute, deceptive, and smart. Participants received one of 6 pairs of scenarios reflecting examples of either intuitive cognition or nonintuitive cognition. Participants selected the immature child as being more cute and less deceptive than the mature child for the intuitive vignettes, but not for the nonintuitive vignettes. This pattern suggests that some forms of immature cognition do indeed bias adults to feel more favorably toward the children who express them and may foster positive parent-child relationship.
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Date Issued
2006
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13387
Subject Headings
Developmental psychobiology, Developmental neurobiology, Child development--Research, Cognition in children, Individual differences in children, Parent and child
Format
Document (PDF)
Maternal neuroendocrine function and fetal development
Title
Maternal neuroendocrine function and fetal development.
Creator
Diego, Miguel Angel, Florida Atlantic University, Jones, Nancy Aaron
Abstract/Description
Maternal neuroendocrine function during pregnancy has been related to a number of pregnancy outcomes including less optimal fetal growth patterns. Animal models have consistently demonstrated that glucocorticoid infusions to the mother result in fetal growth restriction and norepinephrine infusions in reduced blood flow to the fetus. Similarly, human studies reveal that elevated maternal HPA axis and adrenal function (associated with stress anxiety and depression) during pregnancy is related...
Show moreMaternal neuroendocrine function during pregnancy has been related to a number of pregnancy outcomes including less optimal fetal growth patterns. Animal models have consistently demonstrated that glucocorticoid infusions to the mother result in fetal growth restriction and norepinephrine infusions in reduced blood flow to the fetus. Similarly, human studies reveal that elevated maternal HPA axis and adrenal function (associated with stress anxiety and depression) during pregnancy is related to prematurity and low birthweight. The present study examined the relationship between maternal cortisol and norepinephrine and fetal growth measures during mid-gestation. Correlation analyses revealed that both maternal psychological (daily hassles, depression and anxiety) and biochemical (cortisol and norepinephrine) variables were negatively related to fetal growth measures. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses further revealed that maternal cortisol was the best single maternal predictor of fetal growth accounting for a significant portion of the variance even after controlling for gestational age and fetal gender. Results from the structural equation model indicate that the effects of maternal psychological distress on fetal growth are mediated by maternal cortisol. Potential mechanisms of action are discussed.
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Date Issued
2004
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12100
Subject Headings
Neuroendocrinology, Pregnancy, Fetus--Growth, Maternal-fetal exchange, Developmental psychobiology, Comparative neurobiology
Format
Document (PDF)
Breastfeeding and kangaroo care: biobehavioral measures of dyadic bonding, infant cortical maturation, and infant HPA reactivity
Title
Breastfeeding and kangaroo care: biobehavioral measures of dyadic bonding, infant cortical maturation, and infant HPA reactivity.
Creator
Hardin, Jillian, Jones, Nancy Aaron, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description
The current study examined the effects of kangaroo care on breastfeeding practices, infant stress reactivity, and biobehavioral measures of mother-infant bonding across the first 3 months postpartum. Additionally, the role of breastfeeding in infant cortical maturation in the frontal lobe was examined. Thirty two mother-infant dyads participated in the current study; 16 mother-infant dyads were randomly assigned to the kangaroo care group and 17 mother-infant dyads were assigned to the...
Show moreThe current study examined the effects of kangaroo care on breastfeeding practices, infant stress reactivity, and biobehavioral measures of mother-infant bonding across the first 3 months postpartum. Additionally, the role of breastfeeding in infant cortical maturation in the frontal lobe was examined. Thirty two mother-infant dyads participated in the current study; 16 mother-infant dyads were randomly assigned to the kangaroo care group and 17 mother-infant dyads were assigned to the control group. Mothers in the kangaroo care group received training on proper kangaroo care procedures by a trained administrator during the first 1-2 weeks postpartum. Mothers in the kangaroo care group were asked to use the kangaroo care procedure for 1 hour per day for 6 weeks. Maternal perceptions of fetal attachment, mood, feeding intentions, and urinary oxytocin measurements were assessed prenatally. At a newborn visit, infant neurobehavioral functioning and urinary oxytocin measurements were assessed. Maternal mood and feeding practices were also assessed at the newborn visit. At 3 months postpartum, mother-infant dyads were assessed on urinary oxytocin measurements. Mother-infant dyads were recorded during a play session and feeding session. Infant baseline EEG recordings were taken over a 5 minute period. Infant cortisol measurements were collected from infant saliva before and after a mild behavioral stressor, an infant arm restraint procedure. Maternal perceptions of postpartum bonding, mood, infant temperament, and feeding practices were also assessed. Results indicate that kangaroo care produced medium to large effects on cortisol reactivity, dyadic bonding, and breastfeeding practices if kangaroo care was practiced for the recommended amount of time. Kangaroo care produced medium to large effects on oxytocin levels in motherinfant dyads regardless of use. Cortical measures of infant frontal activity indicated that all infants in the samples displayed functional maturity of the frontal lobe. Kangaroo care can be used a viable, low-cost tactile procedure that can be implemented after birth to aid in breastfeeding practices, mother-infant bonding, and lower infant stress reactivity. Infants in the study who received at least one breastfeeding session displayed advanced patterns of frontal activation. Further study is needed to determine if peripheral oxytocin measurements are 1) reliable and 2) are indicative of dyadic bonding behaviors.
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Date Issued
2014
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004119, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004119
Subject Headings
Animal behavior, Attachment behavior in children, Breastfeeding -- Psychological aspects, Developmental psychobiology, Mother and infant -- Psychological aspects, Nature and nurture
Format
Document (PDF)
Kangaroo care with full-term infants: maternal behaviors and mother-infant bonding
Title
Kangaroo care with full-term infants: maternal behaviors and mother-infant bonding.
Creator
Pineda, Melannie, Jones, Nancy Aaron, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description
Kangaroo care (KC), has been shown to promote healthy development for both pre-term and full-term infants, and to improve mother-infant bonding (Ludington-Hoe, 2011; Charpak et al., 2005). Current research on the maternal benefits of kangaroo care is scarce, primarily focuses on early KC, and is mostly qualitative in nature (Fegran, Helseth, & Fagermoan, 2008; Matos et al., 2010). The present study examined the effect of late KC on maternal behaviors, sensitivity, and mother-infant...
Show moreKangaroo care (KC), has been shown to promote healthy development for both pre-term and full-term infants, and to improve mother-infant bonding (Ludington-Hoe, 2011; Charpak et al., 2005). Current research on the maternal benefits of kangaroo care is scarce, primarily focuses on early KC, and is mostly qualitative in nature (Fegran, Helseth, & Fagermoan, 2008; Matos et al., 2010). The present study examined the effect of late KC on maternal behaviors, sensitivity, and mother-infant interactive mutuality when infants were 3 months of age. Mothers who used kangaroo care as directed were found to have greater bonding scores and less anxiety about caring for their infants as measured through the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire. Kangaroo care was also found to have an effect on mothers’ ability to effectively calm their infants after an arm restraint task. Further research on the usefulness of late intermittent KC with full-term infants is needed.
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Date Issued
2014
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004148, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004148
Subject Headings
Animal behavior, Attachment behavior, Developmental psychobiology, Infants (Newborn) -- Family relationships, Mother and infant -- Psychological aspects, Nature and nuture
Format
Document (PDF)