scholarly journals Distinct oxytocin effects on belief updating in response to desirable and undesirable feedback

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (33) ◽  
pp. 9256-9261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yina Ma ◽  
Shiyi Li ◽  
Chenbo Wang ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Wenxin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estimation Error ◽  
Confidence Judgment ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Belief Updating ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
First Order ◽  
Strength Of Association ◽  
Better Than

Humans update their beliefs upon feedback and, accordingly, modify their behaviors to adapt to the complex, changing social environment. However, people tend to incorporate desirable (better than expected) feedback into their beliefs but to discount undesirable (worse than expected) feedback. Such optimistic updating has evolved as an advantageous mechanism for social adaptation. Here, we examine the role of oxytocin (OT)―an evolutionary ancient neuropeptide pivotal for social adaptation―in belief updating upon desirable and undesirable feedback in three studies (n = 320). Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled between-subjects design, we show that intranasally administered OT (IN-OT) augments optimistic belief updating by facilitating updates of desirable feedback but impairing updates of undesirable feedback. The IN-OT–induced impairment in belief updating upon undesirable feedback is more salient in individuals with high, rather than with low, depression or anxiety traits. IN-OT selectively enhances learning rate (the strength of association between estimation error and subsequent update) of desirable feedback. IN-OT also increases participants’ confidence in their estimates after receiving desirable but not undesirable feedback, and the OT effect on confidence updating upon desirable feedback mediates the effect of IN-OT on optimistic belief updating. Our findings reveal distinct functional roles of OT in updating the first-order estimation and second-order confidence judgment in response to desirable and undesirable feedback, suggesting a molecular substrate for optimistic belief updating.

scholarly journals Consolidation of reward memory during sleep does not require dopaminergic activation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Alizadeh Asfestani ◽  
V Brechtmann ◽  
J Santiago ◽  
J Born ◽  
GB Feld
Keyword(s):  
Learning Task ◽  
Reward Learning ◽  
Nocturnal Sleep ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Dopaminergic Neurotransmission ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Differential Retention ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Dopaminergic Activation

AbstractSleep enhances memories, especially, if they are related to future rewards. Although dopamine has been shown to be a key determinant during reward learning, the role of dopaminergic neurotransmission for amplifying reward-related memories during sleep remains unclear. In the present study, we scrutinize the idea that dopamine is needed for the preferential consolidation of rewarded information. We blocked dopaminergic neurotransmission, thereby aiming to wipe out preferential sleep-dependent consolidation of high over low rewarded memories during sleep. Following a double-blind, balanced, crossover design 20 young healthy men received the dopamine d2-like receptor blocker Sulpiride (800 mg) or placebo, after learning a Motivated Learning Task. The task required participants to memorize 80 highly and 80 lowly rewarded pictures. Half of them were presented for a short (750 ms) and a long duration (1500 ms), respectively, which enabled to dissociate effects of reward on sleep-associated consolidation from those of mere encoding depth. Retrieval was tested after a retention interval of 20 h that included 8 h of nocturnal sleep. As expected, at retrieval, highly rewarded memories were remembered better than lowly rewarded memories, under placebo. However, there was no evidence for an effect of blocking dopaminergic neurotransmission with Sulpiride during sleep on this differential retention of rewarded information. This result indicates that dopaminergic activation is not required for the preferential consolidation of reward-associated memory. Rather it appears that dopaminergic activation only tags such memories at encoding for intensified reprocessing during sleep.

scholarly journals Consolidation of Reward Memory during Sleep Does Not Require Dopaminergic Activation

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1688-1703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjan Alizadeh Asfestani ◽  
Valentin Brechtmann ◽  
João Santiago ◽  
Andreas Peter ◽  
Jan Born ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Task ◽  
Reward Learning ◽  
Nocturnal Sleep ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Dopaminergic Neurotransmission ◽  
Msec Duration ◽  
Differential Retention ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Dopaminergic Activation

Sleep enhances memories, especially if they are related to future rewards. Although dopamine has been shown to be a key determinant during reward learning, the role of dopaminergic neurotransmission for amplifying reward-related memories during sleep remains unclear. In this study, we scrutinize the idea that dopamine is needed for the preferential consolidation of rewarded information. We impaired dopaminergic neurotransmission, thereby aiming to wipe out preferential sleep-dependent consolidation of high- over low-rewarded memories during sleep. Following a double-blind, balanced, crossover design, 17 young healthy men received the dopamine d2-like receptor blocker sulpiride (800 mg) or placebo, after learning a motivated learning task. The task required participants to memorize 80 highly and 80 lowly rewarded pictures. Half of them were presented for a short (750 msec) and a long (1500 msec) duration, respectively, which permitted dissociation of the effects of reward on sleep-associated consolidation from those of mere encoding depth. Retrieval was tested after a retention interval of approximately 22 hr that included 8 hr of nocturnal sleep. As expected, at retrieval, highly rewarded memories were remembered better than lowly rewarded memories, under placebo. However, there was no evidence for an effect of reducing dopaminergic neurotransmission with sulpiride during sleep on this differential retention of rewarded information. This result indicates that dopaminergic activation likely is not required for the preferential consolidation of reward-associated memory. Rather, it appears that dopaminergic activation only tags such memories at encoding for intensified reprocessing during sleep.

scholarly journals The role of symmetries in adiabatic quantum algorithms

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1&2) ◽  
pp. 109-140
Author(s):  
G. Schaller ◽  
R. Schutzhold
Keyword(s):  
Energy Gap ◽  
Quantum Phase Transitions ◽  
Quantum Algorithms ◽  
Quantum Algorithm ◽  
First Order ◽  
Pauli Matrices ◽  
Np Problems ◽  
Search Routine ◽  
Better Than

Exploiting the similarity between adiabatic quantum algorithms and quantum phase transitions, we argue that second-order transitions -- typically associated with broken or restored symmetries -- should be advantageous in comparison to first-order transitions. Guided by simple examples we construct an alternative adiabatic algorithm for the NP-complete problem {\em Exact Cover 3}. We show numerically that its average performance (for the considered cases up to $\ord\{20\}$ qubits) is better than that of the conventional scheme. The run-time of adiabatic algorithms is not just determined by the minimum value of the fundamental energy gap (between the ground state and the exited states), but also by its curvature at the critical point. The proposed symmetry-restoring adiabatic quantum algorithm only contains contributions linear and quadratic in the Pauli matrices and can be generalized to other problem Hamiltonians which are decomposed of terms involving one and two qubits. We show how the factoring problem can be cast into such a quadratic form. These findings suggest that adiabatic quantum algorithms can solve a large class of NP problems much faster than the Grover search routine (which corresponds to a first-order transition and yields a quadratic enhancement only).

Examining the Role of Language in Play Among Children With and Without Developmental Disabilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J. Short ◽  
Rachael Cooper Schindler ◽  
Rita Obeid ◽  
Maia M. Noeder ◽  
Laura E. Hlavaty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Play Skills ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Better Than

Purpose Play is a critical aspect of children's development, and researchers have long argued that symbolic deficits in play may be diagnostic of developmental disabilities. This study examined whether deficits in play emerge as a function of developmental disabilities and whether our perceptions of play are colored by differences in language and behavioral presentations. Method Ninety-three children participated in this study (typically developing [TD]; n = 23, developmental language disorders [DLD]; n = 24, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]; n = 26, and autism spectrum disorder [ASD]; n = 20). Children were videotaped engaging in free-play. Children's symbolic play (imagination, organization, elaboration, and comfort) was scored under conditions of both audible language and no audible language to assess diagnostic group differences in play and whether audible language impacted raters' perception of play. Results Significant differences in play were evident across diagnostic groups. The presence of language did not alter play ratings for the TD group, but differences were found among the other diagnostic groups. When language was audible, children with DLD and ASD (but not ADHD) were scored poorly on play compared to their TD peers. When language was not audible, children with DLD were perceived to play better than when language was audible. Conversely, children with ADHD showed organizational deficits when language was not available to support their play. Finally, children with ASD demonstrated poor play performance regardless of whether language was audible or not. Conclusions Language affects our understanding of play skills in some young children. Parents, researchers, and clinicians must be careful not to underestimate or overestimate play based on language presentation. Differential skills in language have the potential to unduly influence our perceptions of play for children with developmental disabilities.

Determinants of English as language choice among Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UMC) in Makassar, Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Andi Samsu Rijal ◽  
Andi Mega Januarti Putri
Keyword(s):  
Language Choice ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Immigrant Communities ◽  
The Public ◽  
International Language ◽  
Language User ◽  
Public Area ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Language Mastery

The essence of language is human activity. Communication with language is carried out through two basic human activities; speaking and listening during the interaction in a group of people. Immigrants in Makassar city communicate with immigrant communities and Makassar people. They used English and Indonesia to communicate with others. The aims of this article were to find out determinant factors of English as language choice among Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UMC) in Makassar and why they used English as their language choice to communicate with other people out of them. The data were taken from UMC in the shelter under the auspices of Makassar’s Social Office and in the public area of Makassar. This research was a qualitative approach; it was from a sociolinguistic perspective and focuses its analysis with the language choice among UMC. This research showed that most immigrants chose English as their language choice since they were in Makassar because they have acquired better than other international language and it has been mastered naturally by doing social interaction among themselves and people outside their community. UMC had more difficulties to socialize with Indonesian than the adult of Immigrants. Other than their lack of language mastery, they also have the anxiety to adapt to other immigrants and Makassar people. English was used by UMC to show their status as a foreigner who lived in a multicultural situation. Language becomes a power for a human being and it becomes a social identity for language user in one community. During the interaction of UMC in Makassar city, the role of English as an International language is shown.

Exploring Baryon Rich Matter with Heavy-Ion Collisions

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 583 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Harabasz
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Heavy Ion ◽  
State Density ◽  
Heavy Nuclei ◽  
First Order ◽  
Center Of Mass Energy ◽  
Ion Collisions ◽  
Deconfinement Phase Transition ◽  
Ground State Density

Collisions of heavy nuclei at (ultra-)relativistic energies provide a fascinating opportunity to re-create various forms of matter in the laboratory. For a short extent of time (10-22 s), matter under extreme conditions of temperature and density can exist. In dedicated experiments, one explores the microscopic structure of strongly interacting matter and its phase diagram. In heavy-ion reactions at SIS18 collision energies, matter is substantially compressed (2–3 times ground-state density), while moderate temperatures are reached (T < 70 MeV). The conditions closely resemble those that prevail, e.g., in neutron star mergers. Matter under such conditions is currently being studied at the High Acceptance DiElecton Spectrometer (HADES). Important topics of the research program are the mechanisms of strangeness production, the emissivity of matter, and the role of baryonic resonances herein. In this contribution, we will focus on the important experimental results obtained by HADES in Au+Au collisions at 2.4 GeV center-of-mass energy. We will also present perspectives for future experiments with HADES and CBM at SIS100, where higher beam energies and intensities will allow for the studies of the first-order deconfinement phase transition and its critical endpoint.

The Role of Chess in the Intellectual Development of Childrens from Primary School

2019 ◽  
pp. 58-62
Author(s):  
Vlad Stegariu ◽  
Simona Andreea Popușoi ◽  
Beatrice Abălașei ◽  
Nicolae Lucian Voinea ◽  
Ioan Stelescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Intellectual Development ◽  
Resources Allocation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
One Year ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Chess Playing

Chess playing has a significant role in participants’ resources allocation, both at a psychological level, but mostly concerning the cognitive resources. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of chess playing on the intellectual development of primary-class students. 67 children were tested using the Raven Standard Progressive Matrices and were distributed in three different groups according to their experience with chess, namely: the control group (formed by students with no experience with chess playing), the beginners group (students with less than one year in chess playing training) and the advanced group (children with more than two years experience with chess). Results indicated that chess playing had a significant effect on the SPM performance, indicating that those in the advanced group performed significantly better than those in the control or in the beginners group. Conclusions of this study tap into the benefits of playing chess with a focus on the children’s’ cognitive development.

scholarly journals Civil Religion or Nationalism? The National Day Celebrations in Norway

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
Pål Ketil Botvar
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
General Population ◽  
Civil Religion ◽  
Religious Nationalism ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Role Of Religion ◽  
Better Than ◽  
The Way

The Norwegian National Day (17 May, also referred to as Constitution Day) stands out as one of the most popular National Day celebrations in Europe. According to surveys, around seven out of every 10 Norwegians take part in a public celebration during this day. This means that the National Day potentially has an impact on the way people reflect upon national identity and its relationship to the Lutheran heritage. In this paper, I will focus on the role religion plays in the Norwegian National Day rituals. Researchers have described these rituals as both containing a significant religious element and being rather secularized. In this article, I discuss the extent to which the theoretical concepts civil religion and religious nationalism can help us understand the role of religion, or the absence of religion, in these rituals. Based on surveys of the general population, I analyze both indicators of civil religion and religious nationalism. The two phenomena are compared by looking at their relation to such items as patriotism, chauvinism, and xenophobia. The results show that civil religion explains participation in the National Day rituals better than religious nationalism.

scholarly journals Detection of Exosomes Using Total Internal Reflected Imaging Ellipsometry

Biosensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Haoyu Liu ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Gang Jin
Keyword(s):  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Surface Markers ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Disease Biomarkers ◽  
First Order ◽  
Imaging Ellipsometry ◽  
Interaction Kinetics ◽  
Membrane Bound

Exosomes are a kind of membrane-bound phospholipid nanovesicle that are secreted extensively in a variety of biological fluids. Accumulating evidence has indicated that exosomes not only communicate with cells, but also perform functional roles in physiology and pathology. In addition, exosomes have also elicited a great deal of excitement due to their potential as disease biomarkers. Therefore, requirements for sensitive methods capable of precisely and specifically determining exosomes were needed. Herein, we not only develop a sensing surface to capture exosomes but also compare two surface proteins on exosomes, which are appropriate for detecting exosome surface markers by total internal reflected imaging ellipsometry (TIRIE). Protein G and antibody were immobilized on a thin layer of golden substrate to form the biosensing surface. The bio-interaction between antibodies and exosomes was recorded by the TIRIE in real time. The distance between exosomes adhered on a surface was 44 nm ± 0.5 nm. The KD  of anti-CD9 and exosome was lower than anti-CD63 and exosome by introducing pseudo-first-order interaction kinetics, which suggested that CD9 is more suitable for exosome surface markers than CD63. The limit of detection (LOD) of TIRIE was 0.4 μg/mL. In conclusion, we have proposed a surface for the detection of exosomes based on TIRIE, which can make the detection of exosomes convenient and efficient.

scholarly journals The Pleiotropic Function of Human Sirtuins as Modulators of Metabolic Pathways and Viral Infections

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 460
Author(s):  
Mohammed Hamed Alqarni ◽  
Ahmed Ibrahim Foudah ◽  
Magdy Mohamed Muharram ◽  
Nikolaos E. Labrou
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Histone Deacetylases ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Cell Physiology ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Complex Functions ◽  
Natural Polyphenol ◽  
Antiviral Targets

Sirtuins (SIRTs) are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent histone deacetylases that incorporate complex functions in the mechanisms of cell physiology. Mammals have seven distinct members of the SIRT family (SIRT1-7), which play an important role in a well-maintained network of metabolic pathways that control and adapt the cell to the environment, energy availability and cellular stress. Until recently, very few studies investigated the role of SIRTs in modulating viral infection and progeny. Recent studies have demonstrated that SIRT1 and SIRT2 are promising antiviral targets because of their specific connection to numerous metabolic and regulatory processes affected during infection. In the present review, we summarize some of the recent progress in SIRTs biochemistry and their emerging function as antiviral targets. We also discuss the potential of natural polyphenol-based SIRT modulators to control their functional roles in several diseases including viral infections.

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