Misophonia is a condition characterized by a strong physiological, emotional, and behaviouralresponse to specific auditory stimuli, which have a significant negative impact on the wellbeingof affected individuals. The present investigation focuses on emotional dysregulation, which arises due to the triggering of specific auditory stimuli. Individuals with misophoniastruggle to regulate their emotions when exposed to sounds, leading to emotional reactions, including anger, anxiety, disgust, avoidance behaviour, fight or flight, and feeling overwhelmed. These reactions might even lead to violent impulses directed towards the source of the sound. Despite its growing recognition, little is yet known about misophonia, and experts have not established any clear boundaries or criteria for the condition to be considered adisorder. As such, it is not yet included in any classification systems for disorders. The aim of this study is to understand how individuals with misophonia experience emotional dysregulation, how do they describe their experience, what is it like to live with misophonia ona day-to-day basis, and how do individuals understand and cope with emotional dysregulation caused by misophonia? The study utilized a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews as the data collection method. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes within the data. Participants stated that misophonia causes significant distress and disruption impacting emotional well-being and daily functioning. Validation of this new condition can be very helpful and make a positive impact in their social circle, and that lack of awareness and effective treatment may hold back seeking professional help.

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Dans un monde dynamique la survie des animaux dépend de leur capacité à intégrer des signaux environnementaux afin d'adapter leur comportement à la survenue de conséquences positives (nourriture) ou négatives (dangers) c'est-à-dire de leurs capacités d’apprentissages associatifs appétitif et aversif. Pendant ce travail de thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés aux bases comportementales, moléculaires et génétiques de l'apprentissage aversif et aux relations existant entre apprentissages aversif et appétitif au sein d'un groupe social. L'abeille est un insecte eusocial qui constitue un modèle de choix pour cette étude grâce à l'existence des protocoles de conditionnement appétitif de la réponse d'extension du proboscis (REP) et de conditionnement aversif de la réponse d'extension du dard (RED). Jusqu'à présent, le renforcement utilisé dans le conditionnement aversif de la RED était un choc électrique. Ce stimulus traversant la majeure partie du corps de l'abeille, il est peu aisé d'étudier les structures responsables de sa détection. Dans un premier chapitre, nous avons donc testé l’effet d’une forte température (65°C) sur la RED. Nous montrons qu’une stimulation thermique au niveau des pièces buccales, des pattes ou des antennes induit une RED. De plus, les abeilles parviennent à associer une odeur à la présentation concomitante d'une forte température. Dans un deuxième chapitre, nous avons cartographié la sensibilité thermique du corps des abeilles en mesurant la RED. Ce travail a montré que la stimulation de presque toutes les parties du corps induit une RED. De plus, ces stimulations peuvent jouer le rôle de renforcement aversif lors d’un conditionnement olfactif de la RED. Nous nous sommes ensuite intéressés aux récepteurs périphériques potentiellement impliqués dans la détection des fortes températures, et en particulier à HsTRPA (Hymenoptera specific Transient Receptor Potential A). Nous montrons que l’injection d'inhibiteurs exogènes de HsTRPA réduit les RED à la température. Ces résultats suggèrent l’implication possible d’HsTRPA dans la détection de la température chez l’abeille. Dans un troisième chapitre, nous nous sommes intéressés aux relations existant entre les capacités d’apprentissages aversif et appétitif des abeilles. En nous appuyant sur le protocole aversif thermique, combiné au protocole de conditionnement de la REP existant, nous avons étudié la distribution des capacités hédoniques appétitive et aversive au sein d'une ruche. La reine étant fécondée par 15-20 mâles, la ruche est segmentée génétiquement en autant de lignées paternelles différentes. Nos données montrent que la sensibilité des individus aux renforcements aversif (chaleur) et appétitif (sucre) détermine leurs performances d'apprentissage au sein de chaque modalité hédonique. Nous montrons de plus l’existence d’un trade-off, sous déterminisme génotypique, entre les capacités cognitives appétitive et aversive au sein de la colonie. Le quatrième chapitre a étudié la plasticité comportementale induite par les deux types de conditionnement. La REP et la RED étant des réponses de type "tout ou rien", nous nous sommes demandé si les mouvements antennaires des abeilles pouvaient procurer une mesure fine et intégrer des apprentissages appétitif et aversif. Nous avons développé un système de capture vidéo enregistrant les mouvements antennaires à haute vitesse. Nous montrons que les abeilles modifient leur réponse antennaire à une odeur après un apprentissage appétitif mais pas après un apprentissage aversif. Durant ce travail de thèse, nous avons ainsi développé deux nouveaux protocoles comportementaux en contention, et avons procuré de nouvelles données sur l’apprentissage aversif chez l’abeille. Nous avons observé un trade-off au sein de la ruche entre les capacités hédoniques appétitive et aversive, sous déterminisme génétique. De telles spécialisations cognitives pourraient jouer un rôle prépondérant dans l'évolution des groupes sociaux. / In a dynamic world, animals constantly face environmental changes that may affect them (Alock, 1997). Their survival depends on their ability to integrate this information in order to adapt their behaviors to subsequent positive or negative outcomes, in other words to their appetitive and aversive learning abilities. This thesis investigates the behavioral, molecular and genetic basis of aversive learning and its putative relationship with appetitive learning in a social group. The honeybee is a social insect which constitutes a profitable model for this study thanks to appetitive conditioning of the proboscis extension response (PER) and aversive conditioning of the sting extension response (SER) protocols that have been developed. To date, aversive conditioning of the SER has involved the use of electric shocks as a negative reinforcement. However, this stimulus is ecologically irrelevant for honeybees and electric currents pass through almost every part of the bee’s body making it difficult to study the dedicated structures and sensory pathways responsible for its detection. In the first chapter, we assessed the impact of high temperatures on SER, a stimulus that is also highly aversive. We showed that a SER may be triggered by heat stimulation of mouthparts, forelegs and antennae. In addition, we demonstrated that honeybees are able to associate an odor with high temperatures, resulting in the odor alone triggering the SER after conditioning. In the second chapter, we mapped the heat sensitivity of the bee’s body recording SER subsequent to heat stimulation. This work revealed that heat stimulation of almost every body structures (beside the wings and the tip of the abdomen) induces a SER. Furthermore, these stimulations may act as aversive reinforcement during an olfactory conditioning of the SER. We then focused on putative peripheral receptors involved in high temperature detection, specifically focusing on HsTRPA (Hymenoptra specific Transient Receptor Potential). Using a neuropharmalogical approach, we showed that HsTRPA exogenous inhibitor injections decrease SER triggered by high temperatures yet have no impact on sucrose PER. These results suggest a putative involvement of HsTRPA in the detection of high temperatures in honeybees. In the third chapter, we investigated the relationship between appetitive and aversive learning. By combining thermal aversive conditioning with the PER conditioning protocol, we studied the distribution of hedonic learning abilities in the hive. Since the queen mates with 15-20 males, the hive is, thus, genetically segmented in as many different patrilines. Our data shows that individual sensitivity to aversive (heat) and appetitive reinforcement varies among workers and determines their learning success in each hedonic modality. In addition, we observed that the better an individual (and therefore a patriline) is at appetitive learning, the less successful it will be in aversive learning, and vice versa. The forth chapter focused on the behavioral plasticity induced by the two types of conditioning. PER and SER are binary responses in an “all or nothing” fashion and subtle behavioral variations are difficult to observe. We therefore investigated if honeybee antennal movements may yield a finer measurement to integrate appetitive and aversive learning. We developed a motion capture system that records antennal movements at high speed. We showed that honeybees modify their antennal response to an odor previously associated with sucrose reward however thermal aversive conditioning did not induce any antennal movement modifications. During this PhD work, we developed two new behavioral assays in harnessed individuals, furthering our understanding on aversive learning in the honeybee. Within the hive, we observed a trade-off between appetitive and aversive hedonic learning, which was genetically influenced. Such cognitive specialization could play a key role in social evolution.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:17:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nelson Novaes Neto.pdf: 2137731 bytes, checksum: 25a81aebe23bcbbf562d10e4ca33ea55 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-10-19 / The present research had as primary goals: 1) To present a proposal for experimental procedure involving the use of the Internet as a laboratory for analysis of human behavior. 2) To use an online chat environment in order to assess whether users behavior of switching between chat rooms in a chat service can be influenced by the introduction or removal of a stimulus (CAPTCHA). A total of 700 users participated in an experimental design (three phases) to verify whether the manipulation of the CAPTCHA stimulus in stages 2 and 3 would affect users behavior as they enter the chat rooms. Two measures were employed to measure behavioral changes: a) number of times each user entered a chat room; and b) amount of time daily spent in the chat rooms for each user. It was hypothesised that for a considerable number of users, the removal of the CAPTCHA would increase the chances of switching to another chat room because of the elimination of the nuisance of answering the test. The results indicated that the pattern of behavior of users who entered the chat rooms was influenced by the effect of the manipulation of the CAPTCHA variable. However, the results were not significant enough to confirm the hypothesis. The measures employed to assess behavior changes were shown to be statistically significant when the CAPTCHA variable was reintroduced (Phase 3) to the participants after a 15-day period without the presence of the independent variable (Phase 2). This effect has shown that the reintroduction of CAPTCHA to the chain of gaining access to the room has significantly affected the behavioral pattern of all users, as compared to the previous stages, indicating that the process of reintroducing VI had, in part, aversive properties. All the same, it is important to consider that it has not been possible to determine whether this effect was caused by the influence of the CAPTCHA stimulus or by the simple change of environment with the inclusion of another component and condition in the chain of gaining access to the room. Since more and more people are increasingly using the Internet, the study of this environment can make a strong contribution to the science of behavior analysis / A presente pesquisa pretendeu: 1) Apresentar uma proposta de procedimento experimental para utilizar a Internet como um laboratório para o estudo do comportamento. 2) Utilizar um ambiente de bate-papo online para avaliar se o comportamento de troca de sala por participantes em um serviço de bate-papo pode ser alterado pela apresentação ou remoção de um estímulo (CAPTCHA). Um total de 700 participantes foram submetidos a um delineamento experimental (três fases) para verificar se a manipulação do estímulo CAPTCHA nas Fases 2 e 3 estabeleceria algum efeito sobre o comportamento de entrar nas salas, avaliado por duas medidas: a) número de acesso às salas de cada participante (entrada em uma sala); e b) permanência em uma sala por dia de cada participante. A hipótese da pesquisa era a de que, para boa parte dos participantes, a remoção do CAPTCHA aumentaria a probabilidade de mudança de sala, pela eliminação do incômodo de responder ao teste. Os resultados indicaram que o padrão comportamental de entrar nas salas pelos participantes foi influenciado pelo efeito da manipulação da variável CAPTCHA. Porém, os resultados não foram significativos para comprovar a hipótese de que a remoção do CAPTCHA aumentaria a probabilidade de mudança de sala. As medidas para o comportamento de entrada, número de acesso às salas e tempo de permanência nelas sofreram mudanças estatisticamente significativas apenas quando a variável CAPTCHA foi reapresentada (Fase 3) aos participantes após um período de 15 dias sem a presença da variável independente (Fase 2). Este efeito demonstrou que a reintrodução do CAPTCHA na cadeia de acesso à sala afetou consideravelmente o padrão comportamental de todos os participantes, quando comparados às fases anteriores, demonstrando que o processo de reintrodução da VI apresentou, em parte, propriedades aversivas. Mesmo assim, é importante considerar que não foi possível decidir se este efeito foi devido à influência do estímulo CAPTCHA ou à simples mudança no ambiente com a inclusão de um componente e condição na cadeia de respostas para acesso à sala. A tendência para o uso desse tipo de ambiente cresce consideravelmente e, nas condições gerais, seu estudo pode oferecer uma grande contribuição para a ciência da análise do comportamento

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:17:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bruna Colombo dos Santos.pdf: 2237783 bytes, checksum: 9f1c5c6b60a5e8efe323aca64b99255d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-09 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Aversive control is a controversial domain inside Behavior Analysis. Classically, includes negative reinforcement (escape and avoidance) and punishment. However, the nomenclature aversive control is used to refer to a number of other behavioral phenomena (conditioned suppression, learned helplessness, etc.). Because it is a controversial domain, in theoretical and experimental areas, reveals itself as a significant issue for historical studies. It was not found a brazilian historical study that has taken the production on aversive control in the country as an object of study. Thus, this work had two objectives: (1) to characterize the researches about aversive control in Brazil, through the analysis of theses and dissertations produced in the country; (2) to analyze the researches on negative reinforcement (escape and avoidance), punishment and aversive control (researches that dealt with the issue in general), the point of view of definitions proposed, terminology used to refer to aversive events, main results, byproducts and application considerations about by-products and to application. To achieve these objectives, two studies were conducted. For the Study 1, were selected theses and dissertations between 1968 and 2010 in the following sources: Database of dissertations and theses in Behavior Analysis (BDTAC/Br); Brazilian Universities digital libraries; Bank of theses and dissertations from CAPES; and Lattes curricula. 98 theses and dissertations on aversive control were found. The universities where more studies were produced were: USP, PUC-SP, UnB, UFPA, USP-RP, and UEL. The vast majority of work was the basic type on uncontrollability/ learned helplessness. The subject more used was the rat; and aversive stimulus, the electric shock. For the Study 2, were selected, based on reading the abstracts of theses and dissertations selected for the Study 1, theses and dissertations on punishment, negative reinforcement (escape and avoidance) and aversive control. It were analyzed the definitions used, the authors in which this definition was based on, the terminology used to refer to events presented in aversive contingencies, the main results found, by-products and considerations for application. Punishment definitions of varied types were found: operational/positive; operational positive/negative; operational/positive and processual; operational/ positive and negative and processual; operational and processual. The definitions of negative reinforcement avoidance were: definitions of responses or avoidance behavior; definitions of avoidance procedures. The definitions about negative reinforcement in general encompassed the escape and avoidance process. The definitions of aversive control included negative reinforcement and punishment. Different authors were used in the definitions, and many have not cited authors. The most used term was aversive stimulus. Regarding the results it was observed variability, due to different research problems and methods. The works on aversive control in general were the ones that most discussed by-products and application / Controle aversivo é um domínio controverso dentro da Análise do Comportamento. Classicamente, engloba reforçamento negativo (fuga e esquiva) e punição. Entretanto, a nomenclatura controle aversivo é utilizada para se referir a uma série de outros fenômenos comportamentais (supressão condicionada, desamparo aprendido, etc). Por ser um domínio controverso, nos âmbitos teórico e experimental, revela-se tema relevante para estudos históricos. Não foi encontrado nenhum estudo histórico brasileiro que tenha tomado a produção sobre controle aversivo no país como objeto de estudo. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve dois objetivos: (1) caracterizar as pesquisas sobre controle aversivo no Brasil, por meio da análise de teses e dissertações produzidas no país; (2) analisar as pesquisas sobre reforçamento negativo (fuga e esquiva), punição e controle aversivo (pesquisas que trataram do tema em geral), do ponto de vista das definições propostas, terminologia empregada para se referir aos eventos aversivos, principais resultados, considerações sobre subprodutos e para aplicação. Para atingir esses objetivos foram realizados dois estudos. Para o Estudo 1, foram selecionadas teses e dissertações entre 1968 e 2010 nas seguintes fontes: Banco de Dados de Dissertações e Teses em Análise do Comportamento (BDTAC/Br); Bibliotecas digitais de universidades brasileiras; Banco de teses e dissertações da Capes; e Currículos Lattes. Foram encontradas 98 teses e dissertações sobre controle aversivo no Brasil. As universidades em que mais trabalhos foram produzidos foram: USP, PUC-SP, UnB, UFPA, USP-RP, e UEL. A grande maioria dos trabalhos foi do tipo básico, sobre incontrolabilidade/desamparo aprendido. O sujeito mais utilizado foi o rato; e o estímulo aversivo, o choque elétrico. Para o Estudo 2, foram selecionadas, com base na leitura dos resumos das teses e dissertações selecionadas para o Estudo 1, teses e dissertações sobre punição, reforçamento negativo (fuga e esquiva) e controle aversivo. Foram encontradas definições de punição de variados tipos: operacional/positiva; operacional/ positiva e negativa; operacional/ positiva e processual; operacional/positiva e negativa e processual; operacional e processual. As definições de reforçamento negativo - esquiva foram do tipo: definições de resposta ou comportamento de esquiva; definições de procedimentos de esquiva. As definições de reforçamento negativo em geral, englobaram os processos de fuga e esquiva. As definições de controle aversivo englobaram reforçamento negativo e punição. Autores distintos foram utilizados nas definições, sendo que muitas não citavam autores. O termo mais empregado para se referir ao evento aversivo utilizado foi estímulo aversivo. Com relação aos resultados observou-se variabilidade, decorrente de problemas de pesquisa e métodos distintos. Os trabalhos sobre controle aversivo em geral foram os que mais discutiram sobre subprodutos e aplicação

O estresse tem se mostrado como um agravante de diversas patologias e transtornos psiquiátricos, como o transtorno depressivo maior (TDM). Estudos apontam que o hipocampo, bem como as vias serotonérgicas presentes neste, estão envolvidas com as respostas de estresse bem como nos efeitos deletérios causados por este. O antagonismo do receptor 5-HT 7, presente nestas vias, tem apresentado um efeito antidepressivo e ansiolítico em alguns trabalhos, porém poucos são os estudos que investigam o papel do receptor 5-HT 7 nas estruturas encefálicas em relação às repostas de estresse. Diante desse dado, o presente trabalho utilizou o modelo Labirinto em Cruz Elevado (LCE) 24 horas após a restrição para investigar o papel do receptor 5-HT 7 do hipocampo na consolidação da memória aversiva. A metodologia utilizada consistiu na injeção bilateral de SB-258741, um antagonista do receptor 5-HT7, no hipocampo dorsal de ratos Wistar machos, feita logo após o estresse de restrição de movimento com exposição ao LCE 24 horas depois. Como resultado desta metodologia, foi observado um aumento na porcentagem de entradas dos animais nos braços abertos, mas não na porcentagem de tempo em que o animal permaneceu nestes braços. Este dado mostra que a injeção de um antagonista de 5-HT 7 no hipocampo leva a uma atenuação dos efeitos comportamentais da consolidação de memória aversiva, corroborando com efeito ansiolítico consequente ao antagonismo deste receptor, observado na literatura. Nesse sentido, a investigação sobre o papel desse receptor, nas respostas de estresse, pode ser útil para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos para os tratamentos dos efeitos prejudiciais do estresse. / Stress has been shown to be an aggravating factor for various diseases and psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies suggest that the hippocampus, as well as serotonergic pathways present in this structure, are involved in stress responses as well as in the deleterious effects caused by this factor. The receptor antagonism of 5-HT 7 receptor, present in these pathways, has shown an antidepressant and anxiolytic effect in some studies, but few studies are investigating the role of 5-HT 7 receptor in brain structures related to stress responses. Given this data, this study used the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) 24 hours after the restrain stress to investigate the role of 5-HT 7 receptor in the hippocampus consolidation of aversive memory. The methodology in this study consisted of bilateral injection of SB-258741, an antagonist of the 5-HT7 receptor, into the dorsal hippocampus of male Wistar rats, made 5 minutes after the restrain stress with exposure to EPM after 24 hours. As a result of this method, an increase in the percentage of animals entries into the open arms, but not at the percentage of time the animal remained in these arms, was observed. This data shows that the injection of a 5-HT 7 antagonist in the hippocampus leads to an attenuation of the aversive memory consolidation behavioral effects, corroborating with the consequent anxiolytic effect to the antagonism of this receptor, presented in the literature. In this sense, research on the role of this receptor in stress responses may be useful for the development of new drugs for the treatment of the harmful effects of stress.

O estresse tem se mostrado como um agravante de diversas patologias e transtornos psiquiátricos, como o transtorno depressivo maior (TDM). Estudos apontam que o hipocampo, bem como as vias serotonérgicas presentes neste, estão envolvidas com as respostas de estresse bem como nos efeitos deletérios causados por este. O antagonismo do receptor 5-HT 7, presente nestas vias, tem apresentado um efeito antidepressivo e ansiolítico em alguns trabalhos, porém poucos são os estudos que investigam o papel do receptor 5-HT 7 nas estruturas encefálicas em relação às repostas de estresse. Diante desse dado, o presente trabalho utilizou o modelo Labirinto em Cruz Elevado (LCE) 24 horas após a restrição para investigar o papel do receptor 5-HT 7 do hipocampo na consolidação da memória aversiva. A metodologia utilizada consistiu na injeção bilateral de SB-258741, um antagonista do receptor 5-HT7, no hipocampo dorsal de ratos Wistar machos, feita logo após o estresse de restrição de movimento com exposição ao LCE 24 horas depois. Como resultado desta metodologia, foi observado um aumento na porcentagem de entradas dos animais nos braços abertos, mas não na porcentagem de tempo em que o animal permaneceu nestes braços. Este dado mostra que a injeção de um antagonista de 5-HT 7 no hipocampo leva a uma atenuação dos efeitos comportamentais da consolidação de memória aversiva, corroborando com efeito ansiolítico consequente ao antagonismo deste receptor, observado na literatura. Nesse sentido, a investigação sobre o papel desse receptor, nas respostas de estresse, pode ser útil para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos para os tratamentos dos efeitos prejudiciais do estresse. / Stress has been shown to be an aggravating factor for various diseases and psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies suggest that the hippocampus, as well as serotonergic pathways present in this structure, are involved in stress responses as well as in the deleterious effects caused by this factor. The receptor antagonism of 5-HT 7 receptor, present in these pathways, has shown an antidepressant and anxiolytic effect in some studies, but few studies are investigating the role of 5-HT 7 receptor in brain structures related to stress responses. Given this data, this study used the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) 24 hours after the restrain stress to investigate the role of 5-HT 7 receptor in the hippocampus consolidation of aversive memory. The methodology in this study consisted of bilateral injection of SB-258741, an antagonist of the 5-HT7 receptor, into the dorsal hippocampus of male Wistar rats, made 5 minutes after the restrain stress with exposure to EPM after 24 hours. As a result of this method, an increase in the percentage of animals entries into the open arms, but not at the percentage of time the animal remained in these arms, was observed. This data shows that the injection of a 5-HT 7 antagonist in the hippocampus leads to an attenuation of the aversive memory consolidation behavioral effects, corroborating with the consequent anxiolytic effect to the antagonism of this receptor, presented in the literature. In this sense, research on the role of this receptor in stress responses may be useful for the development of new drugs for the treatment of the harmful effects of stress.

Research on aversive control of behaviour has dramatically declined over the past decades. This trend is primarily a consequence of an over-reliance on shock-based procedures, which have been increasingly criticized on ethical, practical, and ecological validity grounds. The continued study of aversive regulation thus requires the development of viable alternatives. Six preliminary experiments, triggered by serendipitous observations of Betta splendens’ reactions to unintended water disturbances, allowed for (a) developing a water flows (WFs) experimental paradigm; (b) confirming the aversive function of WFs; and (c) demonstrating the feasibility of the WFs paradigm as an alternative to the use of electric shock, as it does not involve painful stimulation and carries a higher level of inherent ecological validity. Based on the relevance of free-operant avoidance phenomena (Sidman, 1953a) for the study of aversive control, the fact that these have only been demonstrated in one fish species (goldfish) using shocks, and that the only attempt to show another form of avoidance in Betta splendens produced inconclusive results (Otis & Cerf, 1963), the WFs paradigm was implemented in two experiments aimed at addressing these issues. These studies were aligned with a research program on spatiotemporal analysis of behaviour that has demonstrated, over the course of several decades, that a comprehensive understanding of behavioural processes requires an approach that includes, but is not limited to, the study of rates of discrete responses (e.g., key pecks of a pigeon). Accordingly, a more holistic interpretation of experimental data than is typical for behavioural studies was attained through a combined analysis of the frequency and temporal distribution of a target response (crossings in a shuttle-tank), patterns of swimming trajectories, instances and durations of the aversive stimulus, and the occurrence of behaviour related to different features of the experimental tank. In Experiment 1, Betta splendens exposed to a free-operant avoidance procedure reliably escaped WFs but did not develop avoidance behaviour even though escape improved with practice. Moreover, adding a warning stimulus (curtains of air bubbles - CABs) to the free-operant procedure did not produce increments in avoidance behaviour, as has been demonstrated in other species. Considering these findings, Experiment 2 maintained the same free-operant avoidance contingencies, but escape responses were now scheduled to produce the WFs (punishment and extinction of escape). The result of this manipulation was not a substantial decrease of escape, but an initial large increase of this response, followed by a progressive decrease to approximately pre-punishment levels. In addition, punishment did not result in increased avoidance responding as an alternative response. The explanations for these unexpected findings relate to the duration of the CABs; sign- and goal-tracking effects; uncontrolled stimulation produced by water pump activation/operation; unintended reinforcement (mirror reflections and delay between the pump activation and WFs reaching full strength); and the development of responses that allowed the fish to reduce their exposure to high-intensity WFs (i.e., alternative behaviour). The need for investigating the effects of adjusting the WF procedures to the ecology and biology of Betta splendens is also discussed, particularly in regard to their territoriality and predominant defensive response (immobility) in relation to the experimental apparatuses and the target response (changing compartments).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:37:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ThiezaGASGM_DISSERT.pdf: 786174 bytes, checksum: fd475af7fc805fbc9f6633c6413d9035 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-05-16 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / Treatment of major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychopathologies with antidepressants can be associated with improvement of the cognitive deficits related to these disorders. Although the mechanisms of these effects are not completely elucidated, alterations in extinction of aversive memories are believed to be present in these psychopathologies. Moreover, researches with laboratory animals usually focus on male subjects, and we have recently verified that extinction of an aversive task is reduced in female rats when compared to males. In the present study, female rats were long-term treated with clinically used antidepressants (fluoxetine, nortriptyline or mirtazapine) and tested in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance and forced swimming tests in order to evaluate learning, memory, extinction, anxiety and depression-related behaviors. All groups learned the task, but learning was somewhat faster in nortriptyline and mirtazapine-treated animals . Task retrieval was also showed by all experimental groups. Chronic treatment with fluoxetine, but not with the other antidepressants, increased extinction of the discriminative task. In the forced swimming test, animals treated with fluoxetine and mirtazapine showed decreased immobility duration. In conclusion, antidepressants interfere with learning and female rats treated with fluoxetine presented increased extinction of the aversive memory task. On the other hand, both fluoxetine and mirtazapine were effective in the forced swimming test, suggesting dissociation between the antidepressant effects and the extinction of aversive memories / Os tratamentos de depress?o, transtorno de estresse p?s-traum?tico e outras psicopatologias que se utilizam de antidepressivos podem estar associados ? melhora de d?ficits cognitivos relacionados a esses transtornos. Embora os mecanismos pelos quais a melhora nos d?ficits cognitivos ocorre n?o estejam totalmente esclarecidos, altera??es na extin??o de mem?rias aversivas podem estar presentes nestas psicopatologias. Al?m disso, pesquisas com animais de laborat?rio geralmente s?o realizadas com indiv?duos do sexo masculino, e recentemente verificamos que a extin??o de uma tarefa aversiva ? diminu?da em ratas quando comparada ao desempenho de ratos. No presente estudo, ratas Wistar foram tratadas prolongadamente com antidepressivos utilizados na cl?nica (nortriptilina, fluoxetina ou mirtazapina) e testadas na esquiva discriminativa em labirinto em cruz elevado e no teste do nado for?ado, a fim de avaliar a aprendizagem, a mem?ria, a extin??o, a ansiedade e comportamentos relacionados ? depress?o. A explora??o do bra?o aversivo na sess?o de treino foi semelhante em todos os grupos, mostrando que todos os grupos aprenderam a tarefa, havendo, por?m, uma melhora no desempenho dos grupos tratados com nortriptilina e mirtazapina. Na sess?o teste todos os animais evocaram a tarefa. O tratamento prolongado com a fluoxetina, mas n?o com os outros antidepressivos, promoveu uma melhora na extin??o da mem?ria aversiva da EDLC. No teste de nado for?ado, os animais tratados com fluoxetina e mirtazapina apresentaram diminui??o na dura??o da imobilidade, comparados ao ve?culo. Em conclus?o, os antidepressivos podem interferir no aprendizado, mas n?o na evoca??o de mem?rias aversivas. Al?m disso, ratas tratadas com fluoxetina apresentam um aumento da extin??o da tarefa aversiva, em compara??o ao ve?culo, enquanto os demais tratamentos impediram a extin??o dessa tarefa. Al?m disso, tanto a fluoxetina como a mirtazapina foram eficazes no teste de nado for?ado, sugerindo dissocia??o entre os efeitos antidepressivos e extin??o de mem?rias aversivas

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:37:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LuaneMSF_DISSERT.pdf: 1389510 bytes, checksum: 8552b7721296822725c28f11de3be41a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-30 / GABAergic neurotransmission has been implicated in many aspects of learning and memory, as well as mood and anxiety disorders. The amygdala has been one of the major focuses in this area, given its essential role in modulating emotionally relevant memories. However, studies with male subjects are still predominant in the field. Here we investigated the consequences for an aversive memory of enhancing or decreasing GABAergic transmission in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA). Wistar female rats were trained in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task, in which they had to learn to avoid one of the enclosed arms where an aversive stimulus consisting of a bright light and a loud noise was given (day 1). Fifteen minutes before the test session (day 2) animals received 0,2 μL infusions of either saline solution, the GABAergic agonist muscimol (0,05 mg/ml), or the GABAergic antagonist bicuculine (0,025 mg/ml) bilaterally intra-BLA. On the test day, females in proestrous or estrous presented adequate retrieval and did not extinguish the task, while females in metestrous or diestrous presented impaired retrieval. In the first group, muscimol infusion impaired retrieval and bicuculline had no effect, suggesting naturally low levels of GABAergic transmission in the BLA of proestrous and estrous females. In the second group, muscimol infusion had no effect and bicuculline reversed retrieval impairment, suggesting naturally high levels of GABAergic transmission in the BLA of metestrous and diestous females. Additionally, proestrous and estrous females presented higher anxiety levels compared to metestrous and diestrous females, which could explain better performance of this group. On the other hand, BLA GABAergic system did not interfere with the innate fear response because drug infusions had no effect in anxiety. Thus, retrieval alterations caused by the GABAergic drugs were probably related specifically to memory processes / A transmiss?o GABA?rgica est? envolvida em diversos aspectos do aprendizado e da mem?ria, assim com em transtornos de humor e ansiedade. Um dos grandes focos nessa ?rea tem sido a am?gdala, uma estrutura essencial para a modula??o de mem?rias emocionais. Entretanto, os estudos na ?rea s?o majoritariamente feitos em machos. Nesse trabalho foi investigado em ratas as consequ?ncias de uma transmiss?o GABA?rgica aumentada ou reduzida na am?gdala basolateral (BLA) para uma mem?ria aversiva. Ratas Wistar foram treinadas na esquiva discriminativa no labirinto em cruz elevado, aprendendo a evitar um dos bra?os fechados, onde recebiam um est?mulo aversivo consistindo de uma luz forte e um som alto (dia 1). Quinze minutos antes do teste (dia 2) os animais receberam 0,2μL de solu??o salina, do agonista GABA?rgico muscimol (0,05 mg/ml), ou do antagonista GABA?rgico bicuculina (0,025 mg/ml) bilateralmente intra-BLA. F?meas testadas em proestro e estro evocaram adequadamente e n?o extinguiram a tarefa, enquanto f?meas testadas em metaestro e diestro tiveram um d?ficit na evoca??o. No primeiro grupo, a infus?o de muscimol prejudicou a evoca??o e a infus?o de bicuculina n?o teve efeito, indicando n?veis naturalmente baixos de transmiss?o GABA?rgica na BLA de f?meas em proestro e estro. J? no segundo grupo, a infus?o de muscimol n?o teve efeito e a infus?o de bicuculina reverteu o d?ficit na evoca??o, indicando n?veis naturalmente altos de transmiss?o GABA?rgica na BLA de f?meas em metaestro e diestro. F?meas em proestro e estro apresentaram maiores n?veis de ansiedade quando comparadas ?s f?meas em metaestro e diestro, o qu? poderia explicar o melhor desempenho desse grupo. Entretanto, o sistema GABA?rgico da BLA provavelmente n?o interfere com o medo inato, uma vez que os f?rmacos n?o tiveram efeito na ansiedade. Dessa forma, as altera??es na evoca??o causadas por eles parecem estar relacionadas especificamente a processos mnem?nicos