Download or read book Restoring Effects of Oxytocin on the Attentional Preference for Faces in Autism written by Manuela Kanat and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: Reduced attentional preference for faces and symptoms of social anxiety are common in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The neuropeptide oxytocin triggers anxiolytic functions and enhances eye gaze, facial emotion recognition and neural correlates of face processing in ASD. Here we investigated whether a single dose of oxytocin increases attention to faces in ASD. As a secondary question, we explored the influence of social anxiety on these effects. We tested for oxytocin's effects on attention to neutral faces as compared to houses in a sample of 29 autistic individuals and 30 control participants using a dot-probe paradigm with two different presentation times (100 or 500 ms). A single dose of 24 IU oxytocin was administered in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Under placebo, ASD individuals paid less attention to faces presented for 500 ms than did controls. Oxytocin administration increased the allocation of attention toward faces in ASD to a level observed in controls. Secondary analyses revealed that these oxytocin effects primarily occurred in ASD individuals with high levels of social anxiety who were characterized by attentional avoidance of faces under placebo. Our results confirm a positive influence of intranasal oxytocin on social attention processes in ASD. Further, they suggest that oxytocin may in particular restore the attentional preference for facial information in ASD individuals with high social anxiety. We conclude that oxytocin's anxiolytic properties may partially account for its positive effects on socio-cognitive functioning in ASD, such as enhanced eye gaze and facial emotion recognition

Download or read book Behavioral Pharmacology of Neuropeptides Oxytocin written by Rene Hurlemann and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-07-09 with total page 593 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume collects cutting-edge expert reviews in the oxytocin field and will be of interest to a broad scientific audience ranging from social neuroscience to clinical psychiatry. The role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in social behaviors is one of the earliest and most significant discoveries in social neuroscience. Influential studies in animal models have delineated many of the neural circuits and genetic components that underlie these behaviors. These discoveries have inspired researchers to investigate the effects of oxytocin on brain and behavior in humans and its potential relevance as a treatment for psychiatric disorders including borderline personality disorder and autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In fact, there is no established social psychopharmacology in Psychiatry, and oxytocin can be seen as the first endogenous agent specifically addressing social-cognitive impairment in psychiatric disorders, with animal research suggesting that it could be especially efficient in the early postnatal period. From a human perspective, it is crucial to understand more precisely who can benefit from potential oxytocin-related treatments, which outcome measures will best represent their effects, how they should be administered, and what brain mechanisms are likely involved in mediating their effects. This type of “precision medicine” approach is in line with the research domain criteria defined by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.

Download or read book Advances in Autism Research written by Antonio Narzisi and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2021-06-08 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book represents one of the most up-to-date collections of articles on clinical practice and research in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The scholars who contributed to this book are experts in their field, carrying out cutting edge research in prestigious institutes worldwide (e.g., Harvard Medical School, University of California, MIND Institute, King’s College, Karolinska Institute, and many others). The book addressed many topics, including (1) The COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Epidemiology and prevalence; (3) Screening and early behavioral markers; (4) Diagnostic and phenotypic profile; (5) Treatment and intervention; (6) Etiopathogenesis (biomarkers, biology, and genetic, epigenetic, and risk factors); (7) Comorbidity; (8) Adulthood; and (9) Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP). This book testifies to the complexity of performing research in the field of ASD. The published contributions underline areas of progress and ongoing challenges in which more certain data is expected in the coming years. It would be desirable that experts, clinicians, researchers, and trainees could have the opportunity to read this updated text describing the challenging heterogeneity of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Download or read book Oxytocin in Brain Health and Disease How can it exert such pleiotropic neuromodulatory effects written by Francesca Talpo and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2023-06-08 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Oxytocin is a pituitary hormone able to produce a multitude of heterogeneous central and peripheral responses. Within the central nervous system, oxytocin is synthesized by the hypothalamic parvocellular neurons and released in many different brain areas where it acts as a neuromodulator. It exerts pro-social and anxiolytic effects by promoting attachment, trust, maternal bonding, social affiliation, and eating and metabolic functions. Imbalances in the oxytocinergic system are implicated in neuropsychiatric diseases associated with altered socio-emotional competence, such as autism spectrum disorder, clinical depression, and eating disorders. Also, oxytocin impairments could affect memory formation/persistence and they have been found in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, and in several cancers. Although substantial progress has been achieved in understanding single pieces of the complex neurobiology of the oxytocinergic system, the puzzle is far from being complete. It is still unclear how this single neuropeptide could exert such pleiotropic neuromodulatory effects. Extending the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying the complex roles of the oxytocin will be of great interest, as this molecule has the potentiality to be used as a drug treatment.

Download or read book Social Cognition in Psychosis written by Kathryn Eve Lewandowski and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2019-04-11 with total page 345 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Social Cognition in Psychosis combines current research on phenotypes, neurobiology, and existing evidence on the assessment and treatment of various forms of psychoses. The book presents various treatment options, including assessment approaches, tools and training methods that aid in the rehabilitation of patients with psychotic disorders. Social cognition is a set of psychological processes related to understanding, recognizing, processing and appropriately using social stimuli in one's environment. Individuals with psychotic disorders consistently exhibit impairments in social cognition. As a result, social cognition has been an important target for intervention, with recent efforts trying to enhance early recovery among individuals with psychotic disorders. Provides an overview of social cognition in relation to various forms of psychotic disorders Includes assessment and treatment for social cognition dysfunction in psychoses Discusses the genetics and heritability theory of social cognitive dysfunction in psychosis Defines the neurobiology of social cognitive dysfunctions

Download or read book Hormones Regulators and Hippocampus written by Gerald Litwack and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2022-02-16 with total page 526 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hormones, Regulators and Hippocampus, Volume 118 in the Vitamins and Hormones serial highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters, including Thyroid hormone regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis – putative molecular and cellular mechanisms, Synergistic gene regulation by thyroid hormone and glucocorticoid in the hippocampus, Oxytocin and vasopressin in the hippocampus, Steroid hormones and hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain, Steroidogenic enzymes in the hippocampus: transcriptional regulation aspects, Ectonucleotidases in the hippocampus: spatial distribution and expression after ovariectomy and estradiol replacement, and much more. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in the Vitamins and Hormones serials Updated release includes the latest information on Hormones, Regulators and Hippocampus

Download or read book Veterinary Psychopharmacology written by Sharon L. Crowell-Davis and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2019-01-03 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Offers an updated second edition of the comprehensive reference on the use of drugs for veterinary mental health care and behavior modification This fully revised Second Edition of Veterinary Psychopharmacology offers an authoritative reference to the drugs prescribed to treat psychiatric, psychological, and behavioral disorders in pets. Designed to be an accessible resource, the text is divided into sections on psychopharmacologic principles and clinical psychopharmacology. Comprehensive in scope, the book contains detailed information on pharmacologic intervention for pet mental health and behavior issues, offers thorough explanations of options, and explores why a particular drug should be prescribed and why it works. Updated to include the recent advances in psychopharmacology for pets, the Second Edition includes new chapters that cover the principles of psychopharmacology, miscellaneous serotonergic agents, anticonvulsants and mood stabilizers, sympatholytic agents, and NMDA antagonists. In addition, the text explains the drug options, including all the information necessary to correct dysfunctions in the brain’s chemistry through pharmacologic treatment. This important resource: Presents an updated and comprehensive resource for pharmacologic treatments for pet, equine, and zoo animal psychiatric disorders and behavior problems Contains in-depth information on drugs that promote neurochemical changes that will alter the mood, emotional state, reactivity, and behavior of the patient, including prescribing options and mechanisms of action Includes new chapters on the principles of psychopharmacology, miscellaneous serotonergic agents, mood stabilizers, sympatholytic agents, and NMDA antagonists Written for veterinarians, veterinary behaviorists, and veterinary students, the updated second edition of Veterinary Psychopharmacology is a complete source for current knowledge on pharmacologic behavior modification.

Download or read book The Broad Autism Phenotype written by Anthony F. Rotatori and published by Emerald Group Publishing. This book was released on 2015-03-27 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This proposed volume will provide in-depth coverage about a construct known as the broad autism phenotype (BAP).

Download or read book Brain Connectivity in Autism written by Rajesh K. Kana and published by Frontiers E-books. This book was released on 2014-09-23 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The brain's ability to process information crucially relies on connectivity. Understanding how the brain processes complex information and how such abilities are disrupted in individuals with neuropsychological disorders will require an improved understanding of brain connectivity. Autism is an intriguingly complex neurodevelopmental disorder with multidimensional symptoms and cognitive characteristics. A biological origin for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) had been proposed even in the earliest published accounts (Kanner, 1943; Asperger, 1944). Despite decades of research, a focal neurobiological marker for autism has been elusive. Nevertheless, disruptions in interregional and functional and anatomical connectivity have been a hallmark of neural functioning in ASD. Theoretical accounts of connectivity perceive ASD as a cognitive and neurobiological disorder associated with altered functioning of integrative circuitry. Neuroimaging studies have reported disruptions in functional connectivity (synchronization of activated brain areas) during cognitive tasks and during task-free resting states. While these insights are valuable, they do not address the time-lagged causality and directionality of such correlations. Despite the general promise of the connectivity account of ASD, inconsistencies and methodological differences among studies call for more thorough investigations. A comprehensive neurological account of ASD should incorporate functional, effective, and anatomical connectivity measures and test the diagnostic utility of such measures. In addition, questions pertaining to how cognitive and behavioral intervention can target connection abnormalities in ASD should be addressed. This research topic of the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience addresses “Brain Connectivity in Autism” primarily from cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging perspectives.

Download or read book Social Influences on Vocal Development written by Charles T. Snowdon and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1997-03-20 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For at least 30 years, there have been close parallels between studies of birdsong development and those of the development of human language. Both song and language require species-specific stimulation at a sensitive period in development and subsequent practice through subsong and plastic song in birds and babbling in infant humans leading to the development of characteristic vocalisations for each species. This book illustrates how social interactions during development can shape vocal learning and extend the sensitive period beyond infancy and how social companions can induce flexibility even into adulthood. Social companions in a wide range of species including birds and humans but also cetaceans and nonhuman primates play important roles in shaping vocal production as well as the comprehension and appropriate usage of vocal communication. This book will be required reading for students and researchers interested in animal and human communication and its development.

Download or read book Decision Making Affect and Learning written by Mauricio R. Delgado and published by Attention and Performance. This book was released on 2011-03-24 with total page 576 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Focuses on decision making and emotional processing, investigating the psychological and neural systems underlying decision making, and the relationship with reward, affect, and learning. Considers neurodevelopmental and clinical aspects and looks at the applied aspects for other disciplines, including neuroeconomics.

Download or read book Oxford Handbook of Face Perception written by Andrew J. Calder and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2011-07-28 with total page 933 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the past 30 years, face perception has become an area of major interest within psychology. This is the most comprehensive and commanding review of the field ever published.

Download or read book The Cytoarchitectonics of the Human Cerebral Cortex written by Constantin Freiherr von Economo and published by . This book was released on 1929 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2015-07-23 with total page 587 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children.

Download or read book The Cambridge Handbook of Infant Development written by Jeffrey J. Lockman and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2020-08-13 with total page 1104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This multidisciplinary volume features many of the world's leading experts of infant development, who synthesize their research on infant learning and behaviour, while integrating perspectives across neuroscience, socio-cultural context, and policy. It offers an unparalleled overview of infant development across foundational areas such as prenatal development, brain development, epigenetics, physical growth, nutrition, cognition, language, attachment, and risk. The chapters present theoretical and empirical depth and rigor across specific domains of development, while highlighting reciprocal connections among brain, behavior, and social-cultural context. The handbook simultaneously educates, enriches, and encourages. It educates through detailed reviews of innovative methods and empirical foundations and enriches by considering the contexts of brain, culture, and policy. This cutting-edge volume establishes an agenda for future research and policy, and highlights research findings and application for advanced students, researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers with interests in understanding and promoting infant development.

Download or read book The Cambridge Handbook of Animal Cognition written by Allison B. Kaufman and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2021-07-22 with total page 1032 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This handbook lays out the science behind how animals think, remember, create, calculate, and remember. It provides concise overviews on major areas of study such as animal communication and language, memory and recall, social cognition, social learning and teaching, numerical and quantitative abilities, as well as innovation and problem solving. The chapters also explore more nuanced topics in greater detail, showing how the research was conducted and how it can be used for further study. The authors range from academics working in renowned university departments to those from research institutions and practitioners in zoos. The volume encompasses a wide variety of species, ensuring the breadth of the field is explored.

Download or read book Neocortical Modularity and the Cell Minicolumn written by Manuel F. Casanova and published by Nova Science Publishers. This book was released on 2005 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Our everyday view of the world may not necessarily be the most comprehensive one. In this regard neuropathologists should temper opinions based on a limited representation of reality. Microscopy freezes in time a two-dimensional representation of a minute histological process. One must acquire knowledge of the physiology of the lesion before reaching a multidimensional diagnosis. In the case of mental disorders, the modular organisation of the cortex may offer some clues to underlying aetiology. It is tissue, rather than individual cells, that provides for the phenomena of perceptual binding and gamma frequencies. It is the continuous re-entry of excitation into neuronal networks that provides for selective attention. The basis for language and its semantic content resides in the conjoint activation of topographically diverse brain regions. This book is designed to focus on the lowest hierarchical element within the modular organisation of the brain: the cell minicolumn. The minicolumn is a self-contained ecosystem of neurons and their connections that repeats itself throughout the extent of the neocortex. Although a few neuroanatomists at the turn of the century called attention to the vertical arrangement of the cortex, Vernon Mountcastle provided physiological proof in the 1950's for its existence and its role in perception.