Neuronal Yin Yang1 in the prefrontal cortex regulates transcriptional and behavioral responses to chronic stress in mice

Although the synaptic alterations associated with the stress-related mood disorder major depression has been well-documented, the underlying transcriptional mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we perform complementary bulk nuclei- and single-nucleus transcriptome profiling and map locus-specific chromatin interactions in mouse neocortex to identify the cell type-specific transcriptional changes associated with stress-induced behavioral maladaptation. We find that cortical excitatory neurons, layer 2/3 neurons in particular, are vulnerable to chronic stress and acquire signatures of gene transcription and chromatin structure associated with reduced neuronal activity and expression of Yin Yang 1 (YY1). Selective ablation of YY1 in cortical excitatory neurons enhances stress sensitivity in both male and female mice and alters the expression of stress-associated genes following an abbreviated stress exposure. These findings demonstrate how chronic stress impacts transcription in cortical excitatory neurons and identify YY1 as a regulator of stress-induced maladaptive behavior in mice.

Prediction of Self-Control Based on Cognitive Intelligence and Socio-Emotional Behavior Assessments in Early Childhood

Purpose: The infrastructure core of self-control, as an indicator of future success, is unsettled. To better investigate the nature of self-control, and strengthening it, it is necessary to know to what extent is self-control based on cognitive or socio-emotional abilities? Materials and Methods: The authors measured the cognitive intelligence and socio-emotional behavior of 377 healthy Iranian children (girl=46.1%) by Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III) and Kindergarten Inventory of Social-Emotional Tendencies (KIST) at the age range of 42-66 months (mean=54.86, SD=5.88). Then, they assessed their Self-control competency 18 months later, to know which component of WPPSI or KIST could better predict Self-control. Results:.The correlation matrix between all study variables shows that there are more positive significant correlations among Self-control with KIST subsets (5/6) than WPPSI subsets (2/10). The results of automatic linear modelling show that the significant predictors of self-control in the total model (R2=0.161) were Hyperactivity-Maladaptive Behavior (HMB(, (coefficient=.137, importance=0.781), and Daily Living Skills (DLS) (coefficient=.127, importance=0.125), so HMB is the best predictor of self-control among the subsets examined in our research. Therefore, self-control is more related to the socio-emotional than cognitive domain. Conclusion: We suggest children who get a low score in socio-emotional assessments, need early supportive intervention and rehabilitation to prevent the maldevelopment of self-control.

Boredom is the root of all evil — or is it? A psychometric network approach to individual differences in behavioral responses to boredom

Functional accounts of boredom propose that boredom serves as an impartial signal to change something about the current situation, which should give rise to adaptive and maladaptive behavior alike. This contrasts with research on boredom proneness, which has overwhelmingly shown associations with maladaptive behavior. To shed light on this discrepancy, we disentangled boredom proneness from individual differences in (1) the urge to avoid and escape boredom and (2) adaptive and maladaptive ways of dealing with boredom. In a high-powered study (N = 636), psychometric network modeling revealed tight associations between boredom proneness and less adaptive and (especially) more maladaptive ways of dealing with boredom. However, its associations with the urge to avoid and escape boredom were rather weak. Importantly, a higher urge to avoid and escape boredom was linked not only to more maladaptive but also to more adaptive ways of dealing with boredom. This pattern of results was robust across various specific behaviors that have previously been linked to boredom. Our findings provide novel evidence for functional accounts of boredom from an individual difference perspective, cautioning against a shallow view of boredom as a purely maladaptive experience.

Permutation Entropy as a Universal Disorder Criterion: How Disorders at Different Scale Levels Are Manifestations of the Same Underlying Principle

What do bacteria, cells, organs, people, and social communities have in common? At first sight, perhaps not much. They involve totally different agents and scale levels of observation. On second thought, however, perhaps they share everything. A growing body of literature suggests that living systems at different scale levels of observation follow the same architectural principles and process information in similar ways. Moreover, such systems appear to respond in similar ways to rising levels of stress, especially when stress levels approach near-lethal levels. To explain such communalities, we argue that all organisms (including humans) can be modeled as hierarchical Bayesian controls systems that are governed by the same biophysical principles. Such systems show generic changes when taxed beyond their ability to correct for environmental disturbances. Without exception, stressed organisms show rising levels of ‘disorder’ (randomness, unpredictability) in internal message passing and overt behavior. We argue that such changes can be explained by a collapse of allostatic (high-level integrative) control, which normally synchronizes activity of the various components of a living system to produce order. The selective overload and cascading failure of highly connected (hub) nodes flattens hierarchical control, producing maladaptive behavior. Thus, we present a theory according to which organic concepts such as stress, a loss of control, disorder, disease, and death can be operationalized in biophysical terms that apply to all scale levels of organization. Given the presumed universality of this mechanism, ‘losing control’ appears to involve the same process anywhere, whether involving bacteria succumbing to an antibiotic agent, people suffering from physical or mental disorders, or social systems slipping into warfare. On a practical note, measures of disorder may serve as early warning signs of system failure even when catastrophic failure is still some distance away.

Mental Disorder in Chronic Heart Failure

The aim: analysis of scientific publications on the problem of clinical structure of mental disorders in patients with a chronic heart failure, taking into account cardiological pathology. Material and method: according to the keywords “chronic heart failure”, “mental disorders”, “depression”, “anxiety”, “hypochondria”, “dissociative disorders”, “denial”, “personality”, “coping strategies”, articles were searched in databases MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Webofscience, eLibrary. Conclusion: mental disorders are widespread among patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). They are heterogeneous psychopathological phenomena, the features of which are determined by the specifics of the clinical manifestations of symptoms and the course of the cardiological pathology. Mental disorders in patients with CHF negatively affect the quality of life, lead to an increase in readmission times and a high risk of mortality through maladaptive behavior in illness. At the same time, despite the relevance of the study of mental pathology in CHF, dissociative disorders, leading to the most severe maladaptive disorders of behavior in illness, asthenic disorders, which are one of the most subjectively painful and prognostically significant symptoms, as well as the contribution of personality characteristics to the formation of mental disorders, remain insufficiently studied.

Influence of Parents, Peers and the Public on the Behavior of Street Children in Khartoum, Sudan

Children living on the streets are a common sight in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, and other parts of the country. These children have been exposed to many types of pressure which influence behavior outcomes. This study aims to investigate the street children’s socioeconomic profiles and examine the social-psychological influence of parents, peers and the public on the children’s behavior. A systematic sampling technique was used to select 12 markets in Khartoum state. 350 street children from the 12 markets volunteered for the face-to-face interview administered questionnaire. The study found that parents stressors and peers stressors significantly influence the children to perform maladaptive behavior. However, the public did not have any significant effect on children’s maladaptive behavior. The study suggests intervention programs should be applied to stop children from ending up on the streets by providing families with a basic income to guarantee children's welfare, security and sense of family life. To stop children from going back to the streets, a free education policy, fee waivers and free meals for poor children are recommended.

Perceived Vulnerability to Disease, Knowledge and Preventive Behavior Related to COVID-19 in Farsi and Arabic Speaking Refugees

In the face of the worldwide COVIV-19 pandemic, refugees represent a particularly vulnerable group with respect to access to health care and information regarding preventive behavior. In an online survey the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Scale, self-reported changes in preventive and risk behaviors, knowledge about COVID-19, and psychopathological symptoms (PHQ-4) were assessed. The convenience sample consisted of n = 76 refugees (n = 45 Arabic speaking, n = 31 Farsi speaking refugees) and n = 76 German controls matched with respect to age and sex. Refugees reported a significantly larger fear of infection, significantly less knowledge about COVID-19, and a higher frequency of maladaptive behavior, as compared to the control group. This study shows that refugees are more vulnerable to fear of infection and maladaptive behaviors than controls. Culturally adapted, easily accessible education about COVID-19 may be beneficial in improving knowledge and preventive behaviors related to COVID-19.