The purpose of this thesis was to determine whether practice-induced adjustments and retention of a goal directed isometric motor accuracy task were similar between ipsilateral upper and lower limb and whether there is an ipsilateral transfer between upper and lower limbs. In addition, this thesis project aimed to determine whether motor output variability and the activity of the involved agonist and antagonist muscles could predict any of the above stated changes. Sixteen young adults (8 men, 8 women; 22.1 or - 2.1 years) performed 80 trials of goal directed isometric contractions that involved accurately matching a target force of 25% MVC in 200 ms, either with the upper limb or the lower limb followed by the other limb. After an interval of 48 hours, 10 trials similar to the practice trials were performed to examine retention. Feedback of performance was provided in the form of a force-time trajectory along with numerical error values for force and time on each trial. End-point error was quantified as the absolute deviation from the targeted force and time. Motor output variability was quantified as the SD of force, SD of time to peak force and SD of force trajectory. The practice-induced adjustments for force and time endpoint accuracy were similar for the two limbs, however, two days later, retention of the force accuracy was better with the upper limb compared with the lower limb. Practice-induced reduction and practice-to-retention increase in force and time endpoint error were predicted by respective changes in peak force and time to peak force trial-to-trial variability for both limbs. In addition, the changes in accuracy were predicted by the changes in the activity of the involved agonist and antagonist muscles. Nonetheless, the changes in muscle activity differed between the two limbs. The adjustments in muscle activity were also different during the practice session despite the fact that the rate of improvement was similar for the two limbs. Finally, there was an asymmetric transfer of force accuracy from the lower limb to the ipsilateral upper limb, which was associated with the changes in motor output variability. The upper limb, which is inherently less variable as compared to the lower limb, may have retained the task better due to the formation of a stronger muscle synergy (or stronger internal model) to perform the contractions with accuracy. The lower limb, on the other hand may have formed a weaker internal model due to the greater interference from amplified signal-dependent noise (motor output variability) or an alternative motor plan, which may have been concerned primarily with the minimization of motor output variability instead of formation of a muscle synergy to perform the contractions accurately.

Submitted by GABRIEL ISAAC PEREIRA DE CASTRO (trictracxliv@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-04-17T12:18:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese 21.03.18.pdf: 1553454 bytes, checksum: 89c4b5893f1bc14f7a96b6f5ca380ca9 (MD5) / Rejected by Luciana Pizzani null (luciana@btu.unesp.br), reason: Solicitamos que realize uma nova submissão seguindo as orientações abaixo: problema 1: o arquivo contem comentários de correção no lado direito do texto. Favor retirar esses comentários e submeter novamente o arquivo em formato PDF. Agradecemos a compreensão. on 2018-04-17T13:30:42Z (GMT) / Submitted by GABRIEL ISAAC PEREIRA DE CASTRO (trictracxliv@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-04-17T18:56:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Doutorado.pdf: 1503986 bytes, checksum: f8b0cc23707db09cc8a52db7ac2da0f0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Pizzani null (luciana@btu.unesp.br) on 2018-04-19T12:00:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 castro_gip_dr_bot.pdf: 1503986 bytes, checksum: f8b0cc23707db09cc8a52db7ac2da0f0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-19T12:00:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 castro_gip_dr_bot.pdf: 1503986 bytes, checksum: f8b0cc23707db09cc8a52db7ac2da0f0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-22 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A reposição volêmica é necessária em praticamente todos os pacientes submetidos à cirurgia, porém o manejo perioperatório adequado permanece controverso, com grande variabilidade na prática clínica. O volume administrado inadequadamente aumenta as complicações pós-operatórias, assim, o desenvolvimento e a implementação de protocolos para reposição volêmica, baseado em variáveis hemodinâmicas, individualizando o tratamento, é recomendado. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de duas estratégias de reposição volêmica: uma, “convencional”, baseada em infusão contínua de fluidos e outra na administração de bolus com volumes pré-determinados, guiada por parâmetros hemodinâmicos específicos (TAC), na evolução perioperatória e na incidência de complicações pós-operatórias de pacientes submetidos a cirurgias abdominais de médio e grande porte por via aberta. Foi realizado estudo clínico, randomizado, prospectivo, controlado no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu – UNESP entre maio de 2012 a dezembro de 2014, após aprovação do comitê de ética. Os critérios de inclusão foram pacientes classificados como ASA I, II ou III, submetidos a cirurgias abdominais de médio e grande porte por via aberta com duração mínima de 120 minutos, sob anestesia geral. Os critérios de exclusão foram IMC > 35kg/m2, gestação, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica ou infecção brônquica, coagulopatias, histórico de alterações da função renal pré-operatória, sepsis ou sinais de síndrome da resposta inflamatória sistêmica, sinais de insuficiência hepática, pacientes submetidos a cirurgias de urgência ou emergência e aqueles que se recusaram a participar do estudo. Foram incluídos 85 pacientes, randomizados em dois grupos (infusão contínua ou controle (C) e bolus (B)). Em ambos os grupos os alvos hemodinâmicos foram: pressão arterial média (PAM) entre 65 a 80mmHg e delta-PP ≤12%. No grupo C, o anestesiologista estava livre para administrar fluidos de acordo com seu julgamento crítico, em forma de infusão contínua de fluidos, ou seja, sem protocolo. No grupo B, a administração de fluidos foi guiada por um protocolo baseado em administração de bolus fixos. Os fluidos disponíveis em ambos os grupos foram os mesmos. O volume total e a qualidade de fluidos administrados em cada grupo foram avaliados, bem como, o tempo em que permaneceram dentro dos parâmetros pré-estabelecidos. Em seguida, os pacientes foram analisados quanto à presença de complicações pós-operatórias e ao retorno da função do trato gastrointestinal. Os grupos foram homogêneos em relação aos parâmetros antropométricos, ao sexo, à duração da cirurgia, à classificação “ASA” e às comorbidades. O grupo B recebeu uma quantidade total menor de fluidos graças à menor quantidade de cristaloides administrados. Porém, este regime mais restritivo não cursou com menor tempo de internação, em retorno mais precoce da função gastrointestinal ou na diminuição de mortalidade. No grupo B houve uma menor taxa de complicações pulmonares (2% vs 36%; p=0,001), não houve diferença quanto às demais complicações pós-operatórias. Assim, a fluidoterapia realizada pela infusão de bolus e baseada em protocolo previamente estabelecido mostrou-se tão eficiente e segura quanto a reposição volêmica usual, porém resultou em menor volume infundido e na diminuição das complicações pulmonares pós-operatórias. / Volume replacement is necessary in almost all patients submitted to surgery. However, adequate preoperative procedure remains controversial, with several variants in clinical practice. Administered volume, if inadequate, can significantly increase postoperative related complications. Therefore, development and implementation of protocols for volume replacement, based on hemodynamic evaluation, individualizing treatment, is recommended. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of two different strategies for volume replacement: one based on continuous infusion of fluids and another based on administration of bolus with pre-determined volumes, and guided by goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT), on perioperative evolution and on the incidence of postoperative related complication in patients submitted to medium and major open abdominal surgery. A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was made, at the Clinic Hospital of Botucatu Medical School - UNESP, between May 2012 and December 2014, after approval from the ethics committee. Criteria for patient inclusion were classification as ASA I, II or III, submission to medium or major open abdominal surgery, with minimum duration of 120 minutes, under general anesthesia. Criteria for patient exclusion were BMI > 35kg/m2, pregnant women, chronical obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchial infection, coagulopathies, a history of pre operatory kidney function alteration, sepsis or signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, signs of hepatic insufficiency, submission to urgent or emergency surgeries, and those who refused to participate. 85 patients were included, and then randomized into two groups (continuous infusion (C) and bolus (B)). In both groups, hemodynamic goals were mean arterial pressure (MAP) between 65 and 80 mmHg and delta-PP ≤ 12%. On group C, the anesthesiologist was free to administer fluids continuously, according to his critical judgement, with no pre-determined protocol. On group B, fluid administration was guided by a fixed bolus administration protocol. Available fluids were the same for both groups. Total volume and quality of administered fluid on each group was assessed, as well as how long patients remained within the specified parameters. Next, patients were analyzed for the presence of post operatory complications and return of gastrointestinal tract function. Groups were homogeneous regarding anthropometric parameters, gender, surgery duration, "ASA" classification and comorbidities. B group received a smaller total fluid volume, due to a less amount of crystalloids. However, this restrictive regime did not course with a shorter hospitalization period, earlier recovery of gastrointestinal function or a decreased mortality rate. Group B showed a smaller rate of pulmonary complication (2% vs 36%; p=0.001), there was no difference for the other post operatory complications. Therefore, fluid therapy based on a previously determined fixed bolus infusion protocol showed to be as efficient and safe as usual volume replacement therapy. However, it resulted on a smaller volume of infused fluid and diminished post operatory pulmonary complications. / FAPESP : 2012/18870-9

Orientador: Lais Helena Navarro e Lima / Resumo: A reposição volêmica é necessária em praticamente todos os pacientes submetidos à cirurgia, porém o manejo perioperatório adequado permanece controverso, com grande variabilidade na prática clínica. O volume administrado inadequadamente aumenta as complicações pós-operatórias, assim, o desenvolvimento e a implementação de protocolos para reposição volêmica, baseado em variáveis hemodinâmicas, individualizando o tratamento, é recomendado. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de duas estratégias de reposição volêmica: uma, “convencional”, baseada em infusão contínua de fluidos e outra na administração de bolus com volumes pré-determinados, guiada por parâmetros hemodinâmicos específicos (TAC), na evolução perioperatória e na incidência de complicações pós-operatórias de pacientes submetidos a cirurgias abdominais de médio e grande porte por via aberta. Foi realizado estudo clínico, randomizado, prospectivo, controlado no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu – UNESP entre maio de 2012 a dezembro de 2014, após aprovação do comitê de ética. Os critérios de inclusão foram pacientes classificados como ASA I, II ou III, submetidos a cirurgias abdominais de médio e grande porte por via aberta com duração mínima de 120 minutos, sob anestesia geral. Os critérios de exclusão foram IMC > 35kg/m2, gestação, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica ou infecção brônquica, coagulopatias, histórico de alterações da função renal pré-operatória, sepsis ou sinais de síndrom... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Volume replacement is necessary in almost all patients submitted to surgery. However, adequate preoperative procedure remains controversial, with several variants in clinical practice. Administered volume, if inadequate, can significantly increase postoperative related complications. Therefore, development and implementation of protocols for volume replacement, based on hemodynamic evaluation, individualizing treatment, is recommended. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of two different strategies for volume replacement: one based on continuous infusion of fluids and another based on administration of bolus with pre-determined volumes, and guided by goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT), on perioperative evolution and on the incidence of postoperative related complication in patients submitted to medium and major open abdominal surgery. A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was made, at the Clinic Hospital of Botucatu Medical School - UNESP, between May 2012 and December 2014, after approval from the ethics committee. Criteria for patient inclusion were classification as ASA I, II or III, submission to medium or major open abdominal surgery, with minimum duration of 120 minutes, under general anesthesia. Criteria for patient exclusion were BMI > 35kg/m2, pregnant women, chronical obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchial infection, coagulopathies, a history of pre operatory kidney function alteration, sepsis or signs of systemic inflammatory resp... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

abstract: Animals learn to choose a proper action among alternatives according to the circumstance. Through trial-and-error, animals improve their odds by making correct association between their behavioral choices and external stimuli. While there has been an extensive literature on the theory of learning, it is still unclear how individual neurons and a neural network adapt as learning progresses. In this dissertation, single units in the medial and lateral agranular (AGm and AGl) cortices were recorded as rats learned a directional choice task. The task required the rat to make a left/right side lever press if a light cue appeared on the left/right side of the interface panel. Behavior analysis showed that rat's movement parameters during performance of directional choices became stereotyped very quickly (2-3 days) while learning to solve the directional choice problem took weeks to occur. The entire learning process was further broken down to 3 stages, each having similar number of recording sessions (days). Single unit based firing rate analysis revealed that 1) directional rate modulation was observed in both cortices; 2) the averaged mean rate between left and right trials in the neural ensemble each day did not change significantly among the three learning stages; 3) the rate difference between left and right trials of the ensemble did not change significantly either. Besides, for either left or right trials, the trial-to-trial firing variability of single neurons did not change significantly over the three stages. To explore the spatiotemporal neural pattern of the recorded ensemble, support vector machines (SVMs) were constructed each day to decode the direction of choice in single trials. Improved classification accuracy indicated enhanced discriminability between neural patterns of left and right choices as learning progressed. When using a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM) model to extract features from neural activity patterns, results further supported the idea that neural firing patterns adapted during the three learning stages to facilitate the neural codes of directional choices. Put together, these findings suggest a spatiotemporal neural coding scheme in a rat AGl and AGm neural ensemble that may be responsible for and contributing to learning the directional choice task. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2014

Portés par l’évolution rapide d’Internet, les réseaux sociaux sont devenus de nouveaux moyens d’expression pour émettre et consulter des communications de bouche-à-oreille (BAO). Les marketeurs sont intéressés pour mieux utiliser ce BAO dans une politique de communication. Ils élaborent pour cela des stratégies de « sollicitation » consistant à demander à une personne de recommander une offre à ses proches en vue d’atteindre un but. Si l’utilisation de sollicitations se développe, la question de la réponse d’un individu à une sollicitation de BAO reste en suspens. En se basant sur la théorie du comportement dirigé vers un but (Perugini & Bagozzi, 2001), cette recherche propose un modèle général de la réponse à une sollicitation de BAO qui intègre l’influence de la formulation de la sollicitation (gains vs. pertes), de l’éloignement de l’échéance et du type de projet. Le modèle est testé dans le contexte des campagnes de financement participatif où la sollicitation de BAO est fréquemment utilisée pour augmenter le faible taux de succès des campagnes (20%). Les résultats de six études montrent que (1) les individus répondent plus favorablement à une sollicitation de BAO quand l’échéance est proche et que cet effet dépend de la formulation de la sollicitation. (2) En adaptant la formulation à l’éloignement de l’échéance, une sollicitation est en mesure de rendre l’action de BAO plus désirable et de générer une émotion anticipée de fierté ce qui en retour augmente l’intention de BAO. L’effet modérateur du niveau de risque social est aussi validé dans la réponse à la sollicitation. (3) Finalement, la sollicitation de BAO permet bien de développer la visibilité et d’accroître le succès d’une campagne. / Driven by the rapid evolution of the Internet, online social networks have become new channels of expression to issue and consult Word-of-Mouth (WOM). Marketers are increasingly interested in better using WOM in a communication policy. They develop strategies of “solicitation” for asking a person a recommendation of an offer to his family and acquaintances in order to achieve a goal. If the use of solicited WOM is growing, the question of an individual's response to a WOM solicitation remains unsettled. Drawing on Goal-Directed Behaviour theory (Perugini & Bagozzi, 2001), this research proposes a general model of the response to a WOM solicitation which integrates the influence of the solicitation formulation (gain vs loss), time remaining before the deadline and the type of project. The model is tested in the context of crowdfunding where a WOM solicitation is frequently used to increase the campaigns' low success rate (20%). The results of six studies show that (1) individuals respond more favourably to a WOM solicitation when the deadline is close and that effect depends on the formulation. (2) By adapting the formulation to the deadline, a solicitation is able to make the WOM action more desirable and generate an anticipated emotion of pride which in turn increases the WOM intention. The moderating effect of social risk is also validated in the response to a solicitation. (3) Finally, a WOM solicitation makes it possible to develop the visibility and increases the campaign' success rate.

Theories of addiction posit a deficit in goal-directed behavior and an increased propensity toward habitual actions in individuals with substance use disorders. Control over drug intake is assumed to shift from goal-directed to automatic or habitual motivation as the disorder progresses. Several diagnostic criteria reflect the inability to pursue goals regarding reducing or controlling drug use and performing social or occupational functions. The current review gives an overview of the mechanisms underlying the goal-directed and habitual systems in humans, and the existing paradigms that aim to evaluate them. We further summarize the current state of research on habitual and goal-directed functioning in individuals with substance use disorders. Current evidence of alterations in addiction and substance use are mixed and need further investigation. Increased habitual responding has been observed in more severely affected groups with contingency degradation and some outcome devaluation tasks. Reduced model-based behavior has been mainly observed in alcohol use disorder and related to treatment outcomes. Motor sequence learning tasks might provide a promising new approach to examine the development of habitual behavior. In the final part of the review, we discuss possible implications and further developments regarding the influence of contextual factors, such as state and trait variations, and recent advances in task design.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to better understand the goal-striving process in the context of non-problem gambler’s responsible gambling. More specifically, the primary aim of this study was to elucidate the hierarchical structure of goals, the role of the motivational phase of the goal-striving process, and the influence of cognitive evaluation and affective regulation on the goal-striving process. In the first part of the study, a conceptual model is proposed, in which the intrinsic factors used to predict non-problem gamblers’ intentions to gamble responsibly are delineated and tested according to the extension of the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985, 1991), the model of action phases (Gollwitzer, 1990, 1993), the model of goal-directed behavior (Perugini & Bagozzi, 2001; Perugini & Conner, 2000), and the model of effortful decision making and enactment (Bagozzi, Dholakia, & Basuroy, 2003; Dholakia, Bagozzi, & Gopinath, 2007). Four cognitive factors explain the motivational phase of the goal-striving process, and were incorporated in the current study. One factor explains the goal-oriented behavior at abstract level (i.e., goal feasibility), and the other three explain implementation of action-oriented behavior at concrete level (i.e., attitude toward implementing the actions necessary to achieve the goal, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control). In addition, two ways of emotional regulation were incorporated to explain the goal-oriented behavior at abstract level. That is, prefactual emotional valence factors related to the success and failure of future goal attainment (anticipated positive and negative emotions) affect goal desire. To sum up, this study anticipated that the proposed antecedent constructs (two anticipated emotions, goal feasibility, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control) were strong indicators of how non-problem casino patrons would strive to achieve the goal (i.e., maturing or developing responsible gambling behavior) through a goal-striving process, where the motivational phase plays a critical role in explaining intention to gamble responsibly. A secondary goal of the study was to explore how responsible gambling strategies implemented by the gambling industry influence non-problem casino customers’ goal-directed behavior in a responsible gambling setting. Given the ongoing controversy about the effectiveness of responsible gambling strategies, the focus in the second part of the current study was on how situational arousal factors (i.e., psychological reactance) with regard to external interventions (i.e., compulsory and supplementary responsible gambling strategies) would affect implementation intention, based on the psychological reactance theory (J. W. Brehm, 1989; S. S. Brehm & Brehm, 1981). In other words, situational arousal factors were incorporated herein to explain the extrinsic part of the goal-striving process model. This study was designed to facilitate an understanding of how and why external interventions may fail to deliver the intended effect in the responsible gambling context. In order to take into account the varying effectiveness of responsible gambling strategies, an effort was made to discern between the different effects of each responsible gambling strategy type and to understand in greater detail how these effects were moderated by individual disposition, and especially the strength of the individual’s desire for control. A clear understanding of the moderating effect enables a richer understanding of the effectiveness of responsible gambling strategies with regard to responsible gambling behavior by non-problem casino patrons. Insight gained from the study through analysis of the results is discussed, and important theoretical and practical implications and future research agendas presented in the conclusion. / Tourism and Sport

The basal ganglia (BG) is known for its function not only in motor modulation but also in action selection and reward learning. There are two major anatomical pathways through the BG, the direct and the indirect pathways. The direct pathway starts from the striatum and then directly projects to the globus pallidus, pars interna (GPi) and the substantia nigra, pars reticulata (SNr) respectively, while the indirect pathway starts from the striatum but then indirectly projects to GPi and SNr through the globus pallidus, pars externa and then to the subthalamic nucleus. In addition, the output from GPi not only projects to the thalamus where it has been proposed to function in motor control, but also to the lateral habenula (LHb) where it has been proposed to function in outcome evaluation. Previous studies have found that there are three major genetically distinct neuron groups in the entopeduncular nucleus (EP) (rodent homologue of the primate GPi): 1) purely glutamatergic neurons projecting to LHb neurons expressing parvalbumin (PVLHb); 2) purely GABAergic neurons projecting to motor thalamic neurons expressing parvalbumin (PVThal); 3) GABA/glutamate co-releasing neurons projecting to LHb neurons expressing somatostatin (SstLHb). In this study, we knocked out the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 in SstLHb neurons through an adeno-associated virus in mice to test for the impact on goal-directed behavior using a probabilistic switching, two-armed bandit task (2ABT). Results obtained from the freely moving, water-restricted somatostatin-cre mice with the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 ablated in SstLHb neurons showed that: 1) there was neither improvement nor decline in their performance on the task; 2) they might be more distracted between trials while more concentrated within a trial; 3) they had an increase in the probability of switching between ports on consecutive trials when uncertainty in the location of the highly rewarded port was maximum compared to the control animals with intact glutamate release from SstLHb neurons to LHb. The success of the viral expression was then confirmed through whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings of postsynaptic neurons of the LHb, receiving projections from SstLHb neurons. In conclusion, our study has suggested that the glutamate release from the GABA/glutamate co-releasing neurons of EP projecting to LHb may play a role in reinforcement learning and motivation to obtain rewards, and the loss of glutamate in the GABA/glutamate co-releasing vesicles results in increasing uptake of GABA into these vesicles, leading to possible rebound burst firing of SstLHb neurons that eventually increases the sensitivity towards low rate of reward-delivery dramatically. / 2026-03-13T00:00:00Z

Goal-directed actions frequently require a balance between antagonistic processes (e.g., executing and inhibiting a response), often showing an interdependency concerning what constitutes goal-directed behavior. While an inter-dependency of antagonistic actions is well described at a behavioral level, a possible inter-dependency of underlying processes at a neuronal level is still enigmatic. However, if there is an interdependency, it should be possible to predict the neurophysiological processes underlying inhibitory control based on the neural processes underlying speeded automatic responses. Based on that rationale, we applied artificial intelligence and source localization methods to human EEG recordings from N = 255 participants undergoing a response inhibition experiment (Go/Nogo task). We show that the amplitude and timing of scalp potentials and their functional neuroanatomical sources during inhibitory control can be inferred by conditional generative adversarial networks (cGANs) using neurophysiological data recorded during response execution. We provide insights into possible limitations in the use of cGANs to delineate the interdependency of antagonistic actions on a neurophysiological level. Nevertheless, artificial intelligence methods can provide information about interdependencies between opposing cognitive processes on a neurophysiological level with relevance for cognitive theory.