Biasing the perception of ambiguous vocal affect: a TMS study on frontal asymmetry

Several sources of evidence point toward a link between asymmetry of prefrontal brain activity and approach–withdrawal tendencies. Here, we tested the causal nature of this link and examined if the categorization of an ambiguous approach- or withdrawal-related vocal signal can be biased by manipulating left and right frontal neural activity. We used voice morphing of affective non-verbal vocalizations to create individually tailored affectively ambiguous stimuli on an Anger–Fear continuum—two emotions that represent extremes on the approach–withdrawal dimension. We tested perception of these stimuli after 10 min of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or over the vertex (control), a technique that has transient inhibitory effects on the targeted brain region. As expected, ambiguous stimuli were more likely perceived as expressing Anger (approach) than Fear (withdrawal) after right prefrontal compared with left prefrontal or control stimulation. These results provide the first evidence that the manipulation of asymmetrical activity in prefrontal cortex can change the explicit categorization of ambiguous emotional signals

Визначення правового статусу садівницьких, городницьких та дачних товариств

Розкриваються особливості правового статусу садівницьких, городницьких та дач­них товариств, досліджується їх організаційно-правова форма та ті специфічні пра­вові ознаки, що знаходяться в її основі. У зв’язку з відсутністю правової бази діяль­ності цих товариств, робиться спроба сформувати основні теоретико-правові кон­цептуальні підходи до розуміння їх природи та змоделювати законодавчу схему регулювання їх діяльності.Раскрываются особенности правового статуса садоводческих, огороднических и дачных товариществ, исследуются их организационно-правовая форма и правовые особенности, составляющие ее основание. В связи с отсутствием правовых обоснований деятельности этих товариществ автор стремится сформировать основные теоре­тико-правовые концептуальные подходы к раскрытию их сущности и смоделировать законодательную схему регулирования деятельности рассматриваемых товариществ.In article features of legal status of garden, vegetable-garden and country companies reveal, their organizational legal form and those specific features that are in its basis are investigated. In connection with absence of legal base of activity of these communities is attempted to generate the basic theoretical-legal conceptual approaches to understanding of their nature and model legislative sphere of regulation of their activity becomes

Взаимоотношения субъекта и объекта услуг в логистичекой системе обслуживания индивидуальных потребителей

В статье анализируется основная проблема функционирования логистической системы обслуживания индивидуальных потребителей: сопряжение интеров субъекта и объекта услуг. Представлены графическое отражение и аналитическое описание работы системы. Рассмотрены четыре варианта оценки услуги исполнителем и потребителем. Показана зависимость оценки услуги от её комплексности.In article the basic problem of functioning of logistical system of service of individual consumers is analyzed: interface of interests of the subject and object of services. Graphic reflection and the analytical description of work of system are submitted. Four variants of an estimation of service by the executor and the consumer are considered. Dependence of an estimation of service on its integrated approach is shown

High testosterone levels and sensitivity to acute stress in perpetrators of domestic violence with low cognitive flexibility and impairments in their emotional decoding process: a preliminary study.

Hormonal and neuropsychological impairment in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators could play a role in domestic violence. For characterising whether there is a specific psychobiological response to stress, participants who had previously been jailed for IPV and controls were compared for testosterone and cortisol levels, tested for 2D:4D ratios (as an indicator of masculinisation), and given several trait questionnaires and neuropsychological tests related to executive functions and theory of mind. After performing the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), IPV perpetrators experienced decreases in salivary testosterone (T) levels, a moderate worsening of mood, slight anxiety, and a salivary cortisol (C) level increase. Moreover, high basal T was related with high levels of anger and anxiety and worse mood. However, that basal mood does not significantly alter T levels in response to stress. Nonetheless, controls experienced smaller changes in T and larger changes in C and psychological mood. With respect to neuropsychological and cognitive empathic features, IPV perpetrators showed poorer executive performance and emotional recognition than controls. In addition, deficits in both neuropsychological domains were positively associated. Regarding emotional empathy, IPV perpetrators showed higher levels of personal distress than controls. The 2D:4D ratio was lower in IPV than in controls. Moreover, in IPV perpetrators a smaller 2D:4D ratio was related to large increases in T in response to stress and poor emotional recognition. Together with social aspects involved in IPV, differences in psychobiological variables and their relationships could play a relevant role in the onset and perpetuation of violent behaviour

In the eye of the beholder: Reduced threat-bias and increased gaze-imitation towards reward in relation to trait anger

The gaze of a fearful face silently signals a potential threat's location, while the happy-gaze communicates the location of impending reward. Imitating such gaze-shifts is an automatic form of social interaction that promotes survival of individual and group. Evidence from gaze-cueing studies suggests that covert allocation of attention to another individual's gaze-direction is facilitated when threat is communicated and further enhanced by trait anxiety. We used novel eye-tracking techniques to assess whether dynamic fearful and happy facial expressions actually facilitate automatic gaze-imitation. We show that this actual gaze-imitation effect is stronger when threat is signaled, but not further enhanced by trait anxiety. Instead, trait anger predicts facilitated gaze-imitation to reward, and to reward compared to threat. These results agree with an increasing body of evidence on trait anger sensitivity to reward

Safer Sex as the Bolder Choice: Testosterone Is Positively Correlated with Safer Sex Behaviorally Relevant Attitudes in Young Men

Introduction.  Higher testosterone (T) is tied to risk‐taking, especially in financial domains but also in health domains relevant to acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, safer sex constructs could themselves carry the possibility of “social risk” due to sexual stigma or embarrassment, or could involve boldness or confidence because they could represent status displays of frequent sexual activity. Aim.  To determine how T and behaviorally relevant attitudes about sexual risk‐taking are linked, to better understand biopsychosocial aspects of sexual health related to STIs. Methods.  In 78 first‐year male college students, we examined correlations between salivary T and behaviorally relevant safer sex attitudes assessed via questionnaires. Main Outcome Measures.  T, via saliva; safer sex attitudes, via a composite and the University of California, Los Angeles Multidimensional Condom Attitudes Scale (MCAS). Results.  Higher T was significantly correlated with higher scores on the following: safer sex likelihood composite, r (73) = 0.33, P  = 0.003; the MCAS safer sex resilience, r (32) = 0.36, P  = 0.037; and the MCAS condom purchase comfort, r (32) = 0.37, P  = 0.031. Associations between T and safer sex likelihood and resilience were still robust after controlling for potential confounds, though the association between T and purchase comfort diminished to a trend. Conclusions.  Higher T was positively linked with safer sex attitudes, especially those most closely tied to STI risk avoidance. Thus, future research and interventions for STI prevention should address the possibility that safer sex may be paradoxically perceived as a “bold” or “risky” choice even as it decreases STI risk. van Anders SM, Goldey KL, Conley TD, Snipes DJ, and Patel DA. Safer sex as the bolder choice: Testosterone is positively correlated with safer sex behaviorally relevant attitudes in young men. J Sex Med 2012;9:727–734.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90413/1/j.1743-6109.2011.02544.x.pd

Anger in brain and body: the neural and physiological perturbation of decision-making by emotion

Emotion and cognition are dynamically coupled to bodily arousal: The induction of anger, even unconsciously, can reprioritise neural and physiological resources toward action states that bias cognitive processes. Here we examine behavioural, neural and bodily effects of covert anger processing and its influence on cognition, indexed by lexical decision-making. While recording beat-to-beat blood pressure, the words ANGER or RELAX were presented subliminally just prior to rapid word/non-word reaction-time judgements of letter-strings. Subliminal ANGER primes delayed the time taken to reach rapid lexical decisions, relative to RELAX primes. However, individuals with high trait anger were speeded up by subliminal anger primes. ANGER primes increased systolic blood pressure and the magnitude of this increase predicted reaction time prolongation. Within the brain, ANGER trials evoked an enhancement of activity within dorsal pons and an attenuation of activity within visual occipitotemporal and attentional parietal cortices. Activity within periaqueductal grey matter, occipital and parietal regions increased linearly with evoked blood pressure changes, indicating neural substrates through which covert anger impairs semantic decisions, putatively through its expression as visceral arousal. The behavioural and physiological impact of anger states compromises the efficiency of cognitive processing through action-ready changes in autonomic response that skew regional neural activity

Testosterone and Human Behavior: The role of individual and contextual variables

The study of testosterone and aggression originated in experimental studies of animals, showing a direct causal link in some species. Human studies showed an overall weak correlation between testosterone and aggression. A theoretical framework (“the challenge hypothesis”) enabled testosterone-behavior interactions in humans to be framed within a theory that emphasized hormonal responses to competition influencing subsequent aggressive behavior. The short-term administrations of testosterone to young women and to young men showed influences on behavioral and neural processes associated with aggression. Other findings are that testosterone influences aggression in high dominance men, and in those with low cortisol levels; and that testosterone can affect both aggressive and prosocial behavior, within the context of an experimental gam