Taste preconditioning augments odor-aversion learning.

On the basis of previous work that has shown a taste can potentiate odor-aversion conditioning in AX+ conditioning, 6 experiments used rats to examine the effects of pairing a preconditioned taste (A) with a novel odor cue (X) in an A+/AX+ aversion conditioning design. Experiments 1A and 1B demonstrated that a preconditioned taste produced a robust odor aversion that was significantly stronger than a potentiated odor aversion. The results of Experiment 2 showed that the robust odor aversion produced by A+/AX+ conditioning was not the result of the potentiated odor aversion summating with generalization from the taste aversion. The augmented odor aversion was produced only when the taste and odor stimuli were presented simultaneously (Experiment 3) and the preconditioned taste aversion was intact at compound conditioning (Experiment 4). Pairing a novel odor with a preconditioned taste was not sufficient to condition an aversion to odor (Experiment 5), although other results implicated a role for an association between odor and taste in the odor augmentation effect (Experiment 6). The present results have implications for current models of taste + odor interactions in flavor-aversion conditioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationships among marital assessment procedures: A correlational study.

Examined the relationships among 3 methods for assessing marital adjustment: self-reports of marital satisfaction, spouse reports of pleasing and displeasing behaviors, and trained observers' coding of positive and negative communication behaviors; 27 couples served as Ss. Frequency of pleasing behaviors was the only measure that correlated with global marital satisfaction. Inverse relationships were found between positive and negative scores for 2 of the 3 methods investigated. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coparenting: A link between marital conflict and parenting in two-parent families.

Coparenting is examined as an explanatory link between marital conflict and parent–child relations in 2-parent families. Data were collected from 3 samples (pilot sample, n?=?220 mothers; preadolescent sample, n?=?75 couples; preschool sample, n?=?172 couples) by using the Coparenting Questionnaire (G. Margolin, 1992b) to assess parents' perceptions of one another on 3 dimensions—cooperation, triangulation, and conflict. Main effects for child's age and for parents' gender were found for cooperation, and an interaction between parent and child gender was found for triangulation. Regression analyses were consistent with a model of coparenting mediating the relationship between marital conflict and parenting. Discussion addresses the theoretical and clinical importance of viewing coparenting as conceptually separate from other family processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Olfactory-mediated fear-potentiated startle.

Recently, R. Richardson, A. Vishney, and J. Lee (1999) reported that ambient odor cues that were previously paired with footshock potentiate the acoustic startle response in rats. The authors of the present study extend those findings by using a discrete 4-s amyl acetate odor paired with footshock to address several parametric issues that might be important for using odorants as conditioned stimuli (CSs) in this paradigm. Amyl acetate (5%) had no significant effect on startle in untrained rats but did potentiate startle in rats that received 1, 2, 5, or 10 odor-shock pairings. Fear-potentiated startle decreased but was still significant up to 40 days after conditioning and could be measured in test trials separated by as little as 30 s. The magnitude of potentiated startle decreased with decreasing concentrations of amyl acetate (5%-5 x 10-9%). The anxiolytic compound buspirone (10 mg/kg) significantly attenuated olfactory-mediated fear-potentiated startle. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sequential analysis of conflict and accord in distressed and nondistressed marital partners.

Compared the interactional patterns of 22 distressed (mean age 34.6 yrs) and 17 nondistressed (mean age 35.6 yrs) couples through base rate and sequential analyses of communication samples that were coded with the Marital Interactional Coding System. Nondistressed couples emitted higher rates of problem-solving, verbal and nonverbal positive, and neutral behaviors. Sex differences were found for Nonverbal Positive and Neutral behaviors. The sequential analyses provided support, but of limited duration, for positive and negative reciprocity and negative reactivity. The combination of sequential and base rate variables, contrasted with base rate variables alone, made a moderate contribution to the prediction of marital satisfaction. The importance of sequential analyses for examining marital interactional processes is discussed, and several methodological considerations in conducting sequential analyses are examined. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New directions in the chemistry of shape memory polymers

The rapidly expanding field of shape memory polymers (SMPs) is driven by a growing number of potential applications, such as biomaterials, optics, and electronics. The basic concept involves polymers that can be trapped in a thermodynamically-unfavorable shape, then triggered by an external stimulus to return to their original shape, doing useful work in the process. Part of the attraction of using SMPs is that the energy released during actuation is stored in the polymer itself, rather than requiring an external force to change shape. This approach is beneficial for applications where external actuation is impossible or inconvenient. Polymers are also advantageous over shape memory metal alloys or ceramics in that there are endless combinations of functional groups and material properties to suit a variety of purposes, based on the monomers and polymerization conditions chosen. This advantage of SMPs is of particular interest in the development of materials with additional, desirable physicochemical attributes that are not necessarily coupled to the shape memory (SM) behavior itself. The SM behavior is quantitatively measured to facilitate comparison of various polymer systems, and researchers have used a number of defining parameters to guide the development and characterization of materials with extremely precise and reliable SM responses. In this review, recent trends in the structural or chemical characteristics of SMPs are explored, with an emphasis on how the molecular structure and functionality of each polymer affects its mechanical response.     

A physiologically based typology of batterers—promising but preliminary: Comment on Gottman et al. (1995).

The typology of male battering based on accelerating versus decelerating heart rates presented by J. M. Gottman et al. (1995) is promising in its connections to both individual and interactional characteristics of batterers and its fit with other recently proposed typologies. This comment develops the theoretical context for the heart rate variable within the literature on arousal and attention. The meaning of directional heart rate changes is examined in view of anticipatory reactions, biphasic responses, and the complexities of studying heart rate during an interactional sample. It is argued that a physiologically based typology must be considered in the context of sociopolitical perspectives on men's battering and with attention to the role of cognitions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical Issues in Couple and Family Research.

Federal regulations, ethical standards, and state laws governing ethics do not adequately address important issues in couple and family research. Including multiple family members, particularly dependent minors, in research requires the special application of fundamental ethical issues, such as confidentiality, privacy, and informed consent. The sensitive, commingled nature of couple and family information necessitates clear policies about data ownership and disclosure. Researchers need to have respect for the family as a unit and to evaluate benefits versus harms for the family as well as for individuals. This article highlights areas of potential concern and ambiguity related to abuse reporting and Certificates of Confidentiality and also addresses ethical issues with observational data, intervention studies, longitudinal designs, and computer-assisted research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nonparametric strategies to test the independence of behavioral states in sequential data.

Suggests that for assessing unidirectional independence, a test based on the hypergeometric distribution is appropriate. Runs theory is adapted to determine the probability of obtaining long runs and test for bidirectional independence. The quadratic assignment paradigm is applied to measure unidirectional/bidirectional hypotheses. The present statistics are limited to data conceptualized as a single sequence collected in formats allowing for the succession of a particular behavioral state by itself. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Affective responses to conflictual discussions in violent and nonviolent couples.

Compared the affective responses of physically aggressive (PA), verbally aggressive (VA), withdrawing (WI), and nondistressed/nonaggressive (ND) couples during 2 10-min problem-oriented discussions. Coding by outside observers was used to evaluate the motor-expressive components of spouses' emotions. Spouses' self-reports immediately following each discussion were used to assess physiological and phenomenological experiences during the discussion as well as to evaluate the external validity of the discussions. In 3 planned comparisons, PA spouses were compared with other conflictual but nonviolent spouses, all 3 groups of conflictual spouses were compared with ND spouses, and WI spouses were compared with VA spouses. Observers reported that PA husbands, compared with VA and WI husbands, exhibited more overtly negative behaviors and reported a more negative emotional state as well as somewhat more physiological arousal. The PA wives differed from the VA and WI wives in their escalating and then deescalating pattern of overt negative behaviors. Both ND wives and husbands were differentiated from all 3 conflictual groups by their low levels of negative affect, high levels of positive affect, and low levels of reported physiological arousal. In most respects, VA and WI spouses were quite similar. Discussion focuses on how these comparatively innocuous affective patterns might be related to extreme expressions of aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)