Editorial: Genetics of Brain Function and Cognition

There is overwhelming evidence for the existence of substantial genetic influences on individual differences in general and specific cognitive abilities, especially in adults. The actual localization and identification of genes underlying variation in cognitive abilities and intelligence has only just started, however. Successes are currently limited to neurological mutations with rather severe cognitive effects. The current approaches to trace genes responsible for variation in the normal ranges of cognitive ability consist of large scale linkage and association studies. These are hampered by the usual problems of low statistical power to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of small effect. One strategy to boost the power of genomic searches is to employ endophenotypes of cognition derived from the booming field of cognitive neuroscienceThis special issue of Behavior Genetics reports on one of the first genome-wide association studies for general IQ. A second paper summarizes candidate genes for cognition, based on animal studies. A series of papers then introduces two additional levels of analysis in the black box between genes and cognitive ability: (1) behavioral measures of information-processing speed (inspection time, reaction time, rapid naming) and working memory capacity (performance on on single or dual tasks of verbal and spatio-visual working memory), and (2) electrophyiosological derived measures of brain function (e.g., event-related potentials). The obvious way to assess the reliability and validity of these endophenotypes and their usefulness in the search for cognitive ability genes is through the examination of their genetic architecture in twin family studies. Papers in this special issue show that much of the association between intelligence and speed-of-information processing/brain function is due to a common gene or set of genes, and thereby demonstrate the usefulness of considering these measures in gene-hunting studies for IQ.     

Termination of Pregnancy in Rodents by Oral Administration of Praneem,a Purified Neem Seed Extract

PROBLEM: Development of an orally administered abortifacient. METHODS: Subjects were female Wistar rats, weighting 150 to 200 g at the time of experiments. Praneem (a purified extract of neem Azadirachta indica) at a dose of 0.6 ml was given orally from day 8 to 10 after confirming presence and number of implants surgically on day 7 of pregnancy. The animals were examined again under anesthesia on day 15 of pregnancy to check the number of developing embryos. Controls received an equivalent regime of peanut oil. The number and size of implants were counted five days after treatment. RESULTS: Complete resorption of embryos was observed on day 15 of pregnancy in every animal treated with Praneem in contrast to normally developing embryos in rats given peanut oil. In repeat batch experiments, it was established that the effect of the treatment was reversible and animals regained fertility in cycles subsequent to treatment with Praneem. Cytokines of T_H1 type, i.e., gamma interferon and TNF, were raised on administration of Praneem, which may be the probable cause of pregnancy termination. CONCLUSIONS: Praneem on oral adminstration can cause termination of pregnancy in rodents, and the action is probably mediated by T_H1 cytokines.     

Electron microscopic studies of endocrine hyperplasia in duodenal adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis

Summary Electron microscopical studies on endocrine cell hyperplasia of duodenal adenomas from five patients with familial adenomatous polyposis were performed. All the endocrine cell types normally found in the duodenal mucosa were identified. A constant feature was proliferation of duodenal-enterochromaffin cells but an increase in the number of all other endocrine cell types apart from pyloricgastrin cells and somatostatin cells, was also observed. Certain types of intestinal endocrine cells (the intestinal enterochromaffin cell and the glicentin cell) are rare cells in the normal duodenal mucosa. The finding of these cells may indicate increased biological aggressivity.     

Percepciones estudiantiles sobre las propiedades del examen clínico objetivo estructurado en Uruguay. Disponiendo un cuestionario válido para analizar la factibilidad del nuevo formato durante la transición curricular

Introduction

Although an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) format has been applied in Uruguay since 2004, and providing reliable performance measures, perceptions of it properties and level of student satisfaction have not been determined.

深圳市警察心理素质研究Ⅲ.心理健康与应对方式调查

目的：探讨深圳警察的心理健康和应对方式及其与人口学特征的关系。方法：通过团体测试方式对6107名深圳警察进行症状自评量表(SCL-90)和简易应对方式问卷调查。结果：深圳警察SCL-90的总均分、阳性症状均分及l0个因子分均显著低于全国常模；其积极应对得分显著高于全国常模，而消极应对得分显著低于全国常模。深圳男性警察的躯体化、强迫、人际敏感、敌对、偏执、精神病及总均分均显著高于女性，其积极应对得分显著低于女性。36-40岁年龄段及副科级警察SCL-90多项因子分在各年龄段及各职务级别警察中得分最高；45岁以前，随着年龄的递增，积极应对和消极应对两维度的均分均相应递增。结论：年龄、性别、文化程度和职务级别的不同对深圳警察的心理健康状况和应对方式存在一定影响。积极应对有利于心理健康。     

图、词回忆中的序列位置效应及其年龄变化规律

目的：探讨图、词回忆中的首因和近因效应及其年龄变化规律。方法：采用多维记忆评估量表中的汉词回忆和图画回忆分测验对947人的连续年龄组的大样本进行测试，分析不同通道首因和近因效应的差异和年龄变化规律。结果：受试在汉词和图画自由回忆中，均呈现明显的系列位置效应；受试的首因和近因效应均随年龄的增长而增大。当发展到高峰后则随年龄的增长而减弱，各年龄组间比较有显著差异；首因和近因效应随年龄增长是不平行的，首因效应随年龄的增长变化较大。而近因效应的变化则相对较为平缓；两种不同呈现途径的比较发现，图画回忆的首因和近因效应均高于汉词回忆。结论：视觉和听觉呈现途径均呈现明显的系列位置效应，首因效应和近因效应的发展变化规律与记忆的发展变化规律是一致的。首因效应受年龄的影响较大，在有意义的图画回忆中首因效应和近因效应均高于汉词回忆。     

大学生身体意识量表的修订

目的:在Mckinley和Hyde的身体意识客体化量表(OBCS)基础上,进行量表的修订。方法:对432名大学生进行原始量表的测量,其中212名被试的结果作探索性因素分析,其余220名被试的结果作信、效度检验。结果:量表包含20个项目,三个分量表,分别是身体监视、身体羞耻感和控制信念。因素分析表明,三个分量表解释总方差的60.25%,各个项目载荷在0.623~0.824之间。重测信度为0.764~0.802,同质信度为0.861~0.875。与OBSC原量表相比,修订的大学生身体意识量表删减了4个项目。结论:经修订后,大学生身体意识量表具有较为满意的信、效度,可以在大学生中使用。     

睡眠剥夺对内隐记忆的影响

目的:探讨不同时间睡眠剥夺(sleep deprivation,SD)对内隐记忆的影响。方法:将32名青年男性随机分为4组:对照组、SD21、SD45和SD69组,每组8名。采用补笔测验和组词测验对4组被试进行测试。结果:SD 后无论知觉启动还是语义启动,启动量降低,并随SD 时间延长而减少。同一组内,两种测验进行比较,除对照组外,其他SD 组两两比较,语义启动的启动量大于知觉启动(P<0.05)。知觉启动中,SD45同SD69 相比无显著差异(P=0.245),其他两两比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01);语义启动中,SD21同对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P=0.316),其他两两比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论:SD 后内隐记忆受损,并同SD 时间有关;SD 后语义启动和知觉启动出现分离,知觉启动更受SD 影响。     

高中生应对方式及其与学业成绩的关系

目的:探讨高中生面对挫折和烦恼时应对方式的特点及其与学业成绩的关系。方法:以中学生应对方式评定问卷对649名高中生进行了调查。结果:女生比男生更倾向于采用发泄(因子均分2.4±0.7/2.7±0.7,F=23.32,P<0.01)和忍耐(3.2±0.7/3.0±0.8,F=5.08,P<0.05),而男生更倾向于采用幻想(2.4±0.9/2.1±0.8, F=15.52,P<0.01);重点中学比普通中学的高中生更多采用问题解决(3.3±0.6/3.1±0.7,F=20.85,P<0.011幻想(2.4±0.9/2.1±0.9,F=12.87,P<0.01)、退避(2.9±0.6/2.8±0.6,F=7.04,P<0.01)应对;来自城市和农村的高中生应对方式差异不显著;和睦安宁家庭气氛中的高中生采用问题解决应对显著多于偶尔争吵和经常争吵家庭中的高中生;民主型教养方式下的高中生比放任型教养方式的学生更多采用问题解决应对,权威型教养方式家庭中的高中生比民主型教养方式家庭中的高中生更多采用幻想应对。结论:高中生的应对方式存在性别差异。不同家庭气氛和不同教养方式以及学生在学业上的地位对应对方式也有一定影响,但城乡差别不明显。     

军队医科大学学员应对方式特点及心理状况调查

目的:本研究旨在掌握军队医科大学在校学员的应对方式特点,并进一步探讨应对方式和心理健康的关系,以便为军校的心理卫生工作提供重要的理论和实践依据.方法:运用简易应对方式量表和症状自评量表(SCL-90)对军医大学的4786名在校学员进行应对策略特点和健康水平进行评估.结果:(1)军队医科大学学员在面对挫折时,有30～40%的学员采取积极应对方式,而消极应对方式采用的较少(3～28%).(2)军队医科大学学员与国内军校大学生常模比较,其心理状况较好;学员采取的应对方式特点与其心理健康水平有一定的关系.结论: 军队医科大学应加强学员应对方式的教育,以更好的提高学员的心理健康.