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Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Genetical Genomic Determinants Of Alcohol Consumption In Rats And Humans, Heather Richardson, Boris Tabakoff, Laura Saba, Morton Printz, Pam Flodman, Colin Hodgkinson, David Goldman, George Koob, Katerina Kechris, Richard L. Bell, Norbert Hubner, Matthias Heinig, Michal Pravenec, Jonathan Mangion, Lucie Legault, Maurice Dongier, Katherine M. Conigrave, John B. Whitfield, John Saunders, Bridget Grant, Paula L. Hoffman Oct 2009

Genetical Genomic Determinants Of Alcohol Consumption In Rats And Humans, Heather Richardson, Boris Tabakoff, Laura Saba, Morton Printz, Pam Flodman, Colin Hodgkinson, David Goldman, George Koob, Katerina Kechris, Richard L. Bell, Norbert Hubner, Matthias Heinig, Michal Pravenec, Jonathan Mangion, Lucie Legault, Maurice Dongier, Katherine M. Conigrave, John B. Whitfield, John Saunders, Bridget Grant, Paula L. Hoffman

Heather Richardson

Background: We have used a genetical genomic approach, in conjunction with phenotypic analysis of alcohol consumption, to identify candidate genes that predispose to varying levels of alcohol intake by HXB/BXH recombinant inbred rat strains. In addition, in two populations of humans, we assessed genetic polymorphisms associated with alcohol consumption using a custom genotyping array for 1,350 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Our goal was to ascertain whether our approach, which relies on statistical and informatics techniques, and non-human animal models of alcohol drinking behavior, could inform interpretation of genetic association studies with human populations. Results: In the HXB/BXH recombinant inbred (RI) …


The Epigenetics Of Sex Differences In The Brain, Geert De Vries, M. M. Mccarthy, A. P. Auger, T. L. Bale, G. A. Dunn, N. G. Forger, E. K. Murray, B. M. Nugent, J. M. Schwarz, M. E. Wilson Oct 2009

The Epigenetics Of Sex Differences In The Brain, Geert De Vries, M. M. Mccarthy, A. P. Auger, T. L. Bale, G. A. Dunn, N. G. Forger, E. K. Murray, B. M. Nugent, J. M. Schwarz, M. E. Wilson

Geert De Vries

Epigenetic changes in the nervous system are emerging as a critical component of enduring effects induced by early life experience, hormonal exposure, trauma and injury, or learning and memory. Sex differences in the brain are largely determined by steroid hormone exposure during a perinatal sensitive period that alters subsequent hormonal and nonhormonal responses throughout the lifespan. Steroid receptors are members of a nuclear receptor transcription factor superfamily and recruit multiple proteins that possess enzymatic activity relevant to epigenetic changes such as acetylation and methylation. Thus steroid hormones are uniquely poised to exert epigenetic effects on the developing nervous system to …


Epigenetic Control Of Sexual Differentiation Of The Bed Nucleus Of The Stria Terminalis, Geert De Vries, E. K. Murray, A. Hien, N. G. Forger Sep 2009

Epigenetic Control Of Sexual Differentiation Of The Bed Nucleus Of The Stria Terminalis, Geert De Vries, E. K. Murray, A. Hien, N. G. Forger

Geert De Vries

The principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTp) is larger in volume and contains more cells in male than female mice. These sex differences depend on testosterone and arise from a higher rate of cell death during early postnatal life in females. There is a delay of several days between the testosterone surge at birth and sexually dimorphic cell death in the BNSTp, suggesting that epigenetic mechanisms may be involved. We tested the hypothesis that chromatin remodeling plays a role in sexual differentiation of the BNSTp by manipulating the balance between histone acetylation and deacetylation using …


Motivational Interviewing: A Bellwether For Context-Responsive Psychotherapy, Michael J. Constantino, Joan Degeorge, Mamta B. Dadlani, Christopher E. Overtree Jan 2009

Motivational Interviewing: A Bellwether For Context-Responsive Psychotherapy, Michael J. Constantino, Joan Degeorge, Mamta B. Dadlani, Christopher E. Overtree

Christopher E. Overtree

We comment on 6 clinical cases involving the application of one or more elements of Motivational Interviewing (MI). First, we share our general reactions to MI and the case material. Second, we reflect briefly and specifically on each case illustration, highlighting the compelling flexibility and clinical utility of the MI spirit and its principles. Third, we offer several reflective themes across the cases, including convergences between MI and other psychotherapies, and unanswered clinical questions related to MI, its effectiveness, and its change mechanisms. FInally, we advance a context-responsive psychotherapy integration for which MI might effectively serve as the bellwether.