Molecular-chemical basis of emotional states and reinforcement

In this paper we have attempted to relate and explain the activity of the brain different integrative levels, which ends up with occurrence of a goal-directed behaviour and reinforcement. Two main mechanisms of responding to subjects and events of external environment, as rapid executive reactions and slow motivational-emotional states, have been marked out. Each mechanism gets its own neurochemical basis, ways of information transmission and molecular-genetic programs for the specialized metabolic reactions. Together both mechanisms form a unique spatial-temporal continuum of neural processes aimed to produce the beneficial activity and reinforce it by subjectively perceived emotional states.     

Neuronal activity in self-stimulation zones of the hypothalamus in motivational and emotional states induced by electrical and natural stimuli

Study of neuronal activity in hypothalamus areas of self-stimulation in rats showed two types of neurones. Some of them had an increased frequency at food and water deprivation and they had maximum activation at current stimulation, eliciting motivational behaviour. Others had maximum activation at current level, eliciting self-stimulation effects, some of these neurones had positive activating relation to satisfaction of food requirements. The obtained data are considered as morphofunctional substrate of motivational and emotional states.     

模拟失重对大鼠情绪影响的初步研究

目的:研究模拟失重状态对大鼠情绪产生的影响。方法:从20只雄性SD大鼠中挑选16只分成正常组和模拟失重组(n=8),采用摄食和体重测定、旷场试验、糖水偏好度测试及情绪唤醒程度评定四种方法,对大鼠进行情绪检测。结果:①模拟失重组大鼠摄食量下降,体重增加速率较正常组显著减小;②模拟失重14 d后,大鼠的运动力下降,爬格数显著低于正常组(P<0.05),自我修饰次数比正常组明显增多,洗脸与理毛次数均显著高于正常组(P<0.01);③与正常组比较,模拟失重大鼠具有更高水平的情绪唤醒度;④模拟失重14 d对大鼠的糖水偏好度无显著影响。结论:模拟失重14 d使大鼠出现抑郁、紧张和焦躁等负面情绪,出现一定程度的神经质反应,但不会出现快感缺乏。     

Acoustic correlates of individual features of functional and emotional states

General theoretic and applied studies on the effects of emotional and functional states on the acoustic parameters of human speech were analyzed. In most studies, the number of frequency, time, and power characteristics of vocalization were used as the most informative acoustic correlates of emotional and functional states. As a rule, sthenic states lead to the increase, and asthenic states induce the decrease in pitch, formant, and intensity. The relationship between acoustic parameters of speech and emotional and functional states was found, which depended on individual features of the subject and appeared as diverse changes in time and power parameters. For more accurate identification of psychoemotional state of an individual, the study of general tonal phonemes that are common and easily recognizable in different languages may be helpful. The research of acoustic correlates of individual speech parameters is a promising approach to diagnosis of functional and emotional states of a person using the vocalization parameters.     

Physiological,emotional, and professional adaptation of medical students

Female medical students were examined. The somatic health index (HI) according to Apanasenko and state-trait anxiety according to Spielberger were determined. The professional adaptation was estimated by academic performance (the average marks during a semester). Cluster analysis (the k-mean method) was used to distinguish four classes of students differing in their adaptation profiles: (1) good professional adaptation (academic performance), moderate anxiety, and a high HI; (2) poor academic performance and good psychophysiological adaptation; (3) moderate academic performance, a satisfactory psychological and emotional state, and a low HI; and (4) an academic performance lower than the sample average, high anxiety, and a low HI. Methods for correcting maladaptation based on the data obtained are suggested.     

Physiological mechanisms of simulated purposeful activities of patients with epilepsy

In order to look into the physiological mechanisms providing the efficiency of purposeful activity of patients with epilepsy, 102 patients with symptomatic, cryptogenic, and idiopathic forms of this disease were examined. Three clusters of patients were formed using the Gorbov–Shulte performance test. Patients from the low-efficiency cluster were characterized by the lack of the habituation mechanisms in the activity of afferent systems and the mechanisms of motor response; a high level of activity of stress adaptation systems; as well as a higher intrasystemic tension during preparation for purposeful activity compared to patients from the intermediate and high-performance clusters.     

Default network connectivity decodes brain states with simulated microgravity

With great progress of space navigation technology, it becomes possible to travel beyond Earth’s gravity. So far, it remains unclear whether the human brain can function normally within an environment of microgravity and confinement. Particularly, it is a challenge to figure out some neuroimaging-based markers for rapid screening diagnosis of disrupted brain function in microgravity environment. In this study, a 7-day ?6° head down tilt bed rest experiment was used to simulate the microgravity, and twenty healthy male participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans at baseline and after the simulated microgravity experiment. We used a multivariate pattern analysis approach to distinguish the brain states with simulated microgravity from normal gravity based on the functional connectivity within the default network, resulting in an accuracy of no less than 85 % via cross-validation. Moreover, most discriminative functional connections were mainly located between the limbic system and cortical areas and were enhanced after simulated microgravity, implying a self-adaption or compensatory enhancement to fulfill the need of complex demand in spatial navigation and motor control functions in microgravity environment. Overall, the findings suggest that the brain states in microgravity are likely different from those in normal gravity and that brain connectome could act as a biomarker to indicate the brain state in microgravity.     

Physiological responses of simulated karate sparring matches in young men and boys

The purpose of this study was to investigate the duration of each series of offensive and defensive techniques and the cardiovascular, metabolic, and perceptual responses during 2- and 3-minute bouts of simulated karate sparring. Six young men (age, 18-20 years) and 6 boys (age, 16-17 years) participated in this study. We formed 3 pairs of men and 3 pairs of boys to create a demanding competitive environment. After a rest period, each pair performed a 2-minute bout of sparring, sat quietly for 60 minutes, and then performed 3-minute bout of sparring. We measured oxygen uptake (Vo2), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate responses and ascertained the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and energy expenditure (EE) during these sparring bouts. The ventilatory threshold was estimated from ventilatory equivalent and Vo2 obtained during the treadmill test. The duration of each series of offensive and defensive techniques was videotaped. During the 2- and 3-minute bouts of sparring, the duration of longest series of offensive and/or defensive combination techniques performed were 2.1 +/- 1.0 and 1.8 +/- 0.4 seconds, respectively; the mean total times of performing offensive and defensive techniques were 13.3 +/- 3.3 and 19.4 +/- 5.5 seconds, respectively. The mean oxygen uptake (Vo2), the percentage of maximum oxygen uptake (%Vo2max), HR, percentage of maximum HR, RPE, and EE for a 3-minute bout of sparring were significantly higher than for a 2-minute bout of sparring. The mean %Vo2max values for these bouts of sparring were below the ventilatory threshold. It is recommended that karate practitioners perform more specific weight training, plyometric exercises, and interval training to increase the ability to buffer acid muscle and blood concentrations and to build lean body mass, strength, and power to develop the specific motor skills required in sparring.     

Characteristic features of microvascular responses of healthy humans to simulated emotional stress

Characteristic features of microvascular responses of healthy humans to simulated emotional stress (ES) were studied using computer-aided laser Doppler flowmetry. It was shown that, in ES, responses of individual regions of the microvasculature are relatively autonomous and different. In the nail bed, where the arteriolar and the arteriolovenular shunt tone depends on the neurogenic sympathoadrenal regulation, the responses are more pronounced than in the lower arm microvessels. The rearrangements of the nail bed and lower arm microvasculature in response to a simulated situation of ES are different, which is likely to be determined by both their different vascular architecture and other factors (the pressure gradient, metabolic requirements of tissues, etc.). It was established that the ES level determines an increase in the contributions of the neurogenic, myogenic, respiratory, and cardiac components to the modulation of the intensity of microcirculation, increasing the shunt value and the blood flow in microvessels.     

Physiological control of warming and cooling during simulated shuttling and basking in lizards

Differences in warming and cooling rates in basking lizards have long been thought to be brought about by adjustments in heart rate and blood flow. We examined the physiological control of warming and cooling in Iguana iguana, Sceloporus undulatus, and three species of Cordylus by measuring time constants, heart rate, and superficial capillary blood flow. Previously, techniques have not been available to measure time constants in shuttling animals. Using a combination of rapid measurements of temperature and blood flow and numerically intensive parameter-fitting methods, we measured dominant and subdominant time constants in lizards subjected to periods of both simulated basking and simulated shuttling. Cutaneous blood flow and heart rate were measured using laser Doppler flowmeters. Of the three, only the larger I. iguana measurably altered rates of warming and cooling during basking. During shuttling, none of the species effectively controlled warming and cooling. During both basking and shuttling, blood flow and heart rate tended to change in predicted directions. Superficial blood flow correlated with surface temperature while heart rate correlated more closely with core temperature. Changes in superficial blood flow and heart rate varied relatively independently in I. iguana. The techniques used here provide a better understanding of the ability of these species to control thermoregulation.