Failure to Demonstrate That Playing Violent Video Games Diminishes Prosocial Behavior

Background

Past research has found that playing a classic prosocial video game resulted in heightened prosocial behavior when compared to a control group, whereas playing a classic violent video game had no effect. Given purported links between violent video games and poor social behavior, this result is surprising. Here our aim was to assess whether this finding may be due to the specific games used. That is, modern games are experienced differently from classic games (more immersion in virtual environments, more connection with characters, etc.) and it may be that playing violent video games impacts prosocial behavior only when contemporary versions are used.

Methods and Findings

Experiments 1 and 2 explored the effects of playing contemporary violent, non-violent, and prosocial video games on prosocial behavior, as measured by the pen-drop task. We found that slight contextual changes in the delivery of the pen-drop task led to different rates of helping but that the type of game played had little effect. Experiment 3 explored this further by using classic games. Again, we found no effect.

Conclusions

We failed to find evidence that playing video games affects prosocial behavior. Research on the effects of video game play is of significant public interest. It is therefore important that speculation be rigorously tested and findings replicated. Here we fail to substantiate conjecture that playing contemporary violent video games will lead to diminished prosocial behavior.     

视频暴力与攻击行为的神经成像研究进展

认知神经科学促进了心理学领域有关视频暴力与攻击行为的神经生理机制研究.近几年,国外研究者使用功能性磁共振成像研究了视频暴力与攻击行为的神经生理机制,并提出了新的攻击行为模型:神经发展模型.研究发现:长时间暴露在视频暴力下人类对暴力的威胁的脑反应是真实的并且可以察觉到的;能导致前额皮层、杏仁核、前扣带皮层、海马和海马回的激活;能增加潜在的攻击行为.文章介绍了认知神经科学领域中视频暴力和攻击行为神经成像研究的发展现状并展望了其前景.     

The Y Chromosome Effect on Intermale Aggression in Mice Depends on the Maternal Environment

Two parental strains of laboratory mice, NZB and CBA/H, were chosen for their differences in attack behavior. NZB have higher scores than CBA/H. An effect of the Y chromosome on attack behavior was determined for two maternal environments. Each male was tested once in a dyadic encounter with an A/J male as a standard opponent. The two reciprocal F1s and the four reciprocal backcrosses were used. In each group, the proportion of attacking males was used as the dependent variable. In the first experiment, the ovarian graft method was used to test for an effect of variation of the overall maternal environment: parental vs. F1. The results demonstrated an interaction between the Y chromosome and the maternal environment. By use of the adoption method, it was shown in the second experiment that this maternal effect was probably postnatal (and not prenatal).     

The Effect of Adult Aggression on Habitat Selection by Settlers of Two Coral-Dwelling Damselfishes

Coral-reef fishes experience a major challenge when facing settlement in a multi-threat environment, within which, using settlement cues, they need to select a suitable site. Studies in laboratories and artificial setups have shown that the presence of conspecific adults often serves as a positive settlement cue, whose value is explained by the increased survival of juveniles in an already proven fit environment. However, settlement in already inhabited corals may expose the recruits to adult aggression. Daily observations and manipulation experiments were used in the present study, which was conducted in the natural reef. We revealed differential strategies of settlers, which do not necessarily join conspecific adults. Dascyllus aruanus prefer to settle near (not with) their aggressive adults, and to join them only after gaining in size; whereas Dascyllus marginatus settlers in densely populated reefs settle independently of their adult distribution. Our results present different solutions to the challenges faced by fish recruits while selecting their microhabitat, and emphasize the complexity of habitat selection by the naïve settlers. Although laboratory experiments are important to the understanding of fish habitat selection, further studies in natural habitats are essential in order to elucidate the actual patterns of settlement and habitat selection, which are crucial for the survival of coral-reef fish populations.     

The Impact of Short-Term Video Games on Performance among Children with Developmental Delays: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This prospective, randomized controlled study investigated the effects of short-term interactive video game playing among children with developmental delays participating in traditional rehabilitation treatment at a rehabilitation clinic. One hundred and one boys and 46 girls with a mean age of 5.8 years (range: 3 to 12 years) were enrolled in this study. All patients were confirmed to suffer from developmental delays, and were participating in traditional rehabilitation treatment. Children participated in two periods of 4 weeks each, group A being offered intervention of eight 30-minute sessions of interactive video games in the first period, and group B in the second, in addition to the traditional rehabilitation treatment. The physical, psychosocial, and total health of the children was periodically assessed using the parent-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Generic Core Scales (PedsQL); and the children’s upper extremity and physical function, transfer and basic mobility, sports and physical functioning, and global functioning were assessed using the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument. Parental impact was evaluated using the PedsQL-Family Impact Module for family function, PedsQL-Health Satisfaction questionnaire for parents’ satisfaction with their children’s care and World Health Organization-Quality of Life-Brief Version for quality of life. Compared with the baseline, significant improvements of physical function were observed in both groups (5.6 ± 19.5, p = 0.013; 4.7 ± 13.8, p = 0.009) during the intervention periods. No significant improvement of psychosocial health, functional performance, or family impact was observed in children with developmental delays. Short-term interactive video game play in conjunction with traditional rehabilitation treatment improved the physical health of children with developmental delays.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT02184715","term_id":"NCT02184715"}}NCT02184715     

The Effect of Photoperiod on Levels of Endogenous Cytokinins in Xanthium strumarium

The cytokinin content of Xanthium strumarium L. plants decreased markedly when they were exposed to short days (SD). There was a significant decrease in the content of the butanol-soluble cytokinins of the mature leaves after only 5 SD cycles, and after 10 SD there was no significant cytokinin activity in butanol extracts; the changes in the young leaves were less marked. Most of the cytokinin activity in mature leaves appears to be present in the aqueous fraction, whereas in young leaves most activity occurs in the butanol-soluble fraction. SD treated plants produced less root exudate than LD plants, but there were no significant differences in the amounts of cytokinin in the root exudates from LD and SD plants collected over an equivalent time period. The cytokinin levels of SD-induced leaves remained low even when transferred back to LD. The observed differences in cytokinin levels did not appear to be the result of photosynthetic differences. Exposure of detached leaves to LD or SD did not result in differences in cytokinin content. It is not clear whether the observed changes in cytokinin levels in the leaves under SD are involved in the flowering response, but they may be causally related to a reduced chlorophyll content observed in SD-induced leaves.     

Effect of Tetracycline on Leucocyte Ascorbic Acid Levels

Fourteen men aged 73-94 showed a fall in leucocyte ascorbic acid levels during five days'' treatment with 1 g of tetracycline daily. A control group of nine men aged 74-90 showed no fall in leucocyte ascorbic acid levels. Of the control group, three were treated with phenobarbitone 60 mg thrice daily, three with phenylbutazone 200 mg thrice daily, and three with aloxiprin 1,200 mg four times a day. A further two men aged 87 and 90 showed increased urinary excretion of ascorbic acid while receiving 1 g of tetracycline daily.     

The Effect of Eimeria nieschulzi Infection on Leukocyte Levels in the Rat*

SYNOPSIS. Rats inoculated with 10,000 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria nieschulzi had significantly higher total leukocyte counts on postinoculation days (PI) 1, 5, 6 and 7 when compared to control rats. Relative and absolute neutrophil counts increased concomitantly with a decrease in the relative lymphocyte levels in E. nieschulzi-infected rats on PI day 7. Absolute and relative neutrophil counts in infected rats on PI days 7 and 8 were closely correlated with the host's total oocyst discharge. The E. nieschulzi infection had no significant effect on the relative or absolute levels of monocytes or eosinophils. The described changes in leukocyte levels were not paralleled by a significant change in the erythrocyte count.     

The Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation and Sucrose on IAA Levels in Spirodela oligorhiza

U.v. radiation significantly lowers the IAA level in frondsof Spirodela oligorhiza. Fronds grown in the light on mediumsupplemented with sucrose had much higher IAA levels than frondsgrown on medium lacking sucrose. The results suggest that u.v.-inducedabscission in Spirodela and the reduction of abscission by sucroseare both related to their effect on endogenous IAA levels.     

The Effect of Citrulline/Malate on Blood Lactate Levels in Intensive Exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Citrulline/Malate supplementation with intensive training on blood lactate level in active handball players. The athletes were subjected to intense training for 4 weeks, 4 days a week, mainly pre-season strength and technique training. In this training period, stimol group (n = 11) athletes were given stimol 3 times a day as 1 g for breakfast, 1 g for lunch, and 1 g for dinner while the placebo group (n = 11) athletes were given only placebo in the same dosage and the same color at the same time. Blood lactate levels in athletes were measured 4 times, prior to and after a 1-month program as follows: rest (R), end effort (EE), recuperation 5 min (R5 m), and recuperation 20 min (R20 m). Blood lactate levels were compared both as intra-group and between the groups. In intra-group comparison, no change was observed in blood lactate levels in placebo group while a significant difference was found in the levels of stimol group as p < 0.05 with a 49.8% decrease in blood lactate level. In the measurements between groups, in the post-test measurements made after the training period, significant differences as p < 0.05 were found with a 60.7% decrease in blood lactate level EE. Considerable decline was seen especially immediately after exercise in blood lactate levels of the athletes being given stimol supplement. In this case, we can say that Citrulline/Malate supplementation may contribute positively to the performance of athletes and may help postpone fatigue at excessive or prolonged activity.     

Herbicide-Induced Diamine Accumulation in Pea Roots. The Effect of Napropamide on Polyamine Levels

Pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) root tips were incubated innutrient medium for 24 h prior to herbicide treatment. Endogenouslevels of putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine weredetermined in root tip sections at various times following 10and 20µM napropamide application. Little effect on polyaminelevels occurred within 12 h of treatment. However, by 48 h oftreatment, putrescine levels increased more than 3-fold in eachof the root sections within 4 mM of the tip while cadaverineincreased by 2-fold in only the root section 4 to 10 mM fromthe tip. After 72 h of herbicide treatment, the level of putrescineincreased over 8-fold within 5 mM of the root tip. Napropamidehad little effect on spermidine and spermine concentration within10 mM of the root tip after 72 h of exposure. This representsthe first report of an herbicideinduced accumulation of putrescineand cadaverine and suggests a possible phytotoxic effect ofhigh concentrations of putrescine on roots. (Received December 8, 1987; Accepted September 20, 1988)     

大黄牡丹汤对实验性结肠炎小鼠血清细胞因子的影响

目的:探讨大黄牡丹汤对TNBS诱导的小鼠实验性结肠炎的治疗作用及作用机理。方法:采用三硝基苯磺酸(TNBS)法制作实验性结肠炎小鼠模型,给予大黄牡丹汤治疗,观察小鼠的一般状态和DAI评分、结肠组织学变化。采用Luminex液相芯片系统检测血清中白介素1β、白介素4和肿瘤坏死因子α的含量。结果:大黄牡丹汤对TNBS结肠炎小鼠的一般状况及DAI评分有改善作用、并能缓解结肠局部的炎症,可降低血清中白介素1β和肿瘤坏死因子α的含量的水平。结论:大黄牡丹汤具有一定地防治TNBS所诱导的小鼠结肠炎的作用,其机制可能与抑制白介素1β和肿瘤坏死因子α的分泌有关。     

The Interaction Effect to Fertilization on the Mineral Nutrition of Canola Under Different Salinity Levels

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - The objective of this work was to study the effect of increasing rates of salinity with and without fertilizer on the mineral nutrition of canola. It is about...     

The Effect of two Different Feed Levels on the Development of the Reproductive Organs in Boars

The aim of the present investigation was to study the development of the reproductive organs in boars fed restrictively and fed ad libitum. A total of 120 boars were purchased by the experimental station at 20 kg live weight. Three groups of 4 litter mates were selected after each of 10 A.I. boars (7 Swedish Landrace and 3 Swedish Yorkshire). The dams were unselected sows from pigletproducing herds. Two boar pigs from each litter were allocated at random among 2 treatment groups. One group ( = N) was fed restrictively and the other group (=A) ad libitum. The boars were slaughtered at 90 kg or at 120 kg live weight. The reproductive organs were removed at slaughter and examined. The ad libitum fed boars were about 2 weeks younger at slaughter than those fed restrictively (16.5 and 13.7 days respectively for the 2 weight classes). The weights of the testes were somewhat higher for ad libitum fed than for restrictively fed boars. Out of 94 examined pairs of testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles and bulbo-urethral glands, the left was heavier than the right in 68%, 62%, 48%, and 36%, respectively. Fewer (4/23) ad libitum fed than restrictively fed boars (9/26) had reached puberty at 90 kg live weight. Age at puberty thus seems to be less variable than body size in boars.     

Effect of altitude upon 1968 Olympic Games running performances

The record running times of Mexico City Olympic Games gold medal winners (men and women) were plotted against the pre-October 1968 records, showing that performances for short distances were better at mid-altitude, while for long distances the performances were better at low elevations.

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Zusammenfassung Die Rekord-Laufzeiten der Goldmedalliengewinner der Olympischen Spiele in Mexico City wurden gegen die Vor-Oktober 1968 Rekorde aufgetragen. Die Leistungen auf den Kurzstrecken waren besser als im Tiefland und liessen auf den mittleren Strecken nach, bei den Frauen früher als bei den Männern.

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Resume On a comparé les temps obtenus par les vainqueurs (médailles d'or) des Jeux Olympiques de Mexico City aux records établis avant l'automne 1968. Les résultats de Mexico ont été meilleurs que ceux obtenus en plaine pour les courtes distances alors qu'ils étaient moins bons au fur et à mesure que les distances augmentaient. La chute des performances se fait plus vite sentir chez les femmes que chez les hommes.