Search results for "choice behavior"
showing 10 items of 110 documents
Effects of CGS 10746B on hyperactivity and place preference induced by morphine
2001
The effects of CGS 10746B, a dopamine release inhibitor, on spontaneous locomotor activity, morphine-induced hyperactivity, acquisition of conditioned place paradigm and morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) was evaluated in male mice. In experiment 1, animals treated with CGS 10746B (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 mg/kg), morphine (40 mg/kg) or morphine (40 mg/kg) plus CGS 10746B (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 mg/kg) were placed in an actimeter during a period of 90 min. In experiment 2, animals treated with CGS 10746B (0.5, 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg), morphine (40 mg/kg) or morphine (40 mg/kg) plus CGS 10746B (0.5, 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg) were conditioned following a procedure unbiased …
Role of nitric oxide in pheromone-mediated intraspecific communication in mice
2009
Nitric oxide is known to take part in the control of sexual and agonistic behaviours. This is usually attributed to its role in neural transmission in the hypothalamus and other structures of the limbic system. However, socio-sexual behaviours in rodents are mainly directed by chemical signals detected by the vomeronasal system, and nitric oxide is abundant in key structures along the vomeronasal pathway. Thus, here we check whether pharmacological treatments interfering with nitrergic transmission could affect socio-sexual behaviour by impairing the processing of chemical signals. Treatment with an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis (Nomega-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, L-N…
New behavioural trait adopted or rejected by observing heterospecific tutor fitness
2010
Animals can acquire behaviours from others, including heterospecifics, but should be discriminating in when and whom to copy. Successful individuals should be preferred as tutors, while adopting traits of poorly performing individuals should be actively avoided. Thus far it is unknown if such adaptive strategies are involved when individuals copy other species. Furthermore, rejection of traits based on tutor characteristics (negative bias) has not been shown in any non-human animal. Here we test whether a choice between two new, neutral behavioural alternatives—breeding-sites with alternative geometric symbols—is affected by observing the choice and fitness of a heterospecific tutor. A fiel…
Pregnancy e-health: a multicenter Italian cross-sectional study on internet use and decision-making among pregnant women
2013
Background Our study aimed to estimate the prevalence of pregnancy e-health seekers in a large Italian sample; to explore the factors influencing the choices of the childbearing women regarding their lifestyles after internet consultation; and finally to investigate potential differences between primiparous and multiparous women in internet use to find information about pregnancy. Methods A multicentre survey was carried out in seven Italian cities. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire administered in waiting rooms of outpatient departments by medical doctors. Respondents were questioned about their sociodemographic status, their use of the internet to seek pregnancy inform…
Small field motion detection in goldfish is red-green color blind and mediated by the M-cone type
2007
Large field motion detection in goldfish, measured in the optomotor response, is based on the L-cone type, and is therefore color-blind (Schaerer & Neumeyer, 1996). In experiments using a two-choice training procedure, we investigated now whether the same holds for the detection of a small moving object (size: 8 mm diameter; velocity: 7 cm/s). In initial experiments, we found that goldfish did not discriminate between a moving and a stationary stimulus, obviously not taking attention to the cue “moving.” Therefore, random dot patterns were used in which the stimulus was visible only when moving. Using black and white random dot patterns with variable contrast between 0.2 and 1, we found…
Separation of Cognitive Impairments in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Into 2 Familial Factors
2010
Contains fulltext : 89304.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) CONTEXT: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with widespread cognitive impairments, but it is not known whether the apparent multiple impairments share etiological roots or separate etiological pathways exist. A better understanding of the etiological pathways is important for the development of targeted interventions and for identification of suitable intermediate phenotypes for molecular genetic investigations. OBJECTIVES: To determine, by using a multivariate familial factor analysis approach, whether 1 or more familial factors underlie the slow and variable reaction times, impaired response inhi…
Small-sample characterization of stochastic approximation staircases in forced-choice adaptive threshold estimation
2007
Despite the widespread use of up—down staircases in adaptive threshold estimation, their efficiency and usability in forced-choice experiments has been recently debated. In this study, simulation techniques were used to determine the small-sample convergence properties of stochastic approximation (SA) staircases as a function of several experimental parameters. We found that satisfying some general requirements (use of the accelerated SA algorithm, clear suprathreshold initial stimulus intensity, large initial step size) the convergence was accurate independently of the spread of the underlying psychometric function. SA staircases were also reliable for targeting percent-correct levels far …
Perception of illusory surfaces and contours in goldfish
2007
Goldfish(Carassius auratus)were trained to discriminate triangles and squares using a two choice procedure. In the first experiment, three goldfish were trained with food reward on a black outline triangle on a white background, while a black outline square was shown for comparison. In transfer tests, a Kanizsa triangle and a Kanizsa square were presented, perceived by humans as an illusory triangle- or square-shaped surface of slightly higher brightness than the background. The choice behavior in this situation indicates that goldfish are able to discriminate between both figures in almost the same way as in the training situation. In control experiments goldfish did not discriminate betwe…
Factors affecting the choice of certain Szondi test pictures.
1951
The Factor Structure of Medical Tourist Satisfaction: Exploring Key Drivers of Choice, Delight, and Frustration
2021
The current study intends to contribute to a better understanding of the medical tourism experience. In particular, this study uses data from a survey-based study conducted on a sample of 1,209 medical tourists in Croatia. On the one hand, this study aims to explore and shed light on the decision-making process of medical tourists, and, on the other hand, to reveal which elements of both the medical institution and the destination where it is located, have largest potentials to drive medical tourist delight and/or frustration, in accordance with the three-factor theory of customer satisfaction.