Jean-louis Gariepy - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Jean-louis Gariepy

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic differences in social behavior: Relation to natural killer cell function and susceptibility to tumor development

…, 1993

1. Tested whether certain heritable personality traits would correlate with increased vulnerabili... more 1. Tested whether certain heritable personality traits would correlate with increased vulnerability to tumor development and reduced natural killer (NK) cell function in mice selectively bred for high and low levels of aggression. All socially inhibited Ss developed ...

Research paper thumbnail of Research report D3 and D2 dopamine receptor agonists differentially modulate isolation-induced social-emotional reactivity in mice

Following isolation housing, mice typically exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to mild socia... more Following isolation housing, mice typically exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to mild social stimulation. Aggression, social avoidance and a variety of defensive behaviors that differ in terms of motor activation (e.g. freezing, escape) can be observed depending on strain. Previous studies suggested that D2-like dopamine (DA) receptors play an important, albeit strain specific, role in the mediation of particular forms of

Research paper thumbnail of D2Like Dopamine Receptor Mediation of Social-Emotional Reactivity in a Mouse Model of Anxiety: Strain and Experience Effects

Neuropsychopharmacology, 1998

We examined the effects of the D2-like dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole on social-emotional r... more We examined the effects of the D2-like dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole on social-emotional reactivity in two inbred mouse strains. An important objective of this study was to determine whether these effects could be modulated by differential housing conditions (i.e., isolation versus group housing). Moreover, as motor activity is an important control for the assessment of drug effects on emotional behavior,

Research paper thumbnail of D1 dopamine receptor mediation of social and nonsocial emotional reactivity in mice: effects of housing and strain difference in motor activity

Behavioral neuroscience, 1997

The study examined the effects of isolation housing and the role of D1 dopamine receptors on isol... more The study examined the effects of isolation housing and the role of D1 dopamine receptors on isolation-induced social and nonsocial (acoustic startle) reactivity in mice high (C57BL/6) and low (A) in motor activity. Isolation housing had no effect on acoustic startle but increased strain-specific forms of social reactivity. The D1 agonist dihydrexidine (DHX) increased acoustic startle in isolated mice of both strains, but this effect was more pronounced in C57BL/6 mice. In this strain, DHX and the D1 agonist SKF-81297 increased locomotor forms of social reactivity (e.g., escape, jump), whereas the D1 antagonist SCH-23390 increased stationary reactivity (e.g., freezing). In A mice, DHX and SKF-81297 increased and decreased stationary reactivity, respectively, whereas SCH-23390 had no effect on these behaviors. Administration of SKF-81297 after pretreatment with SCH-23390 or the D2 antagonist sulpiride confirmed the importance of D1 receptors in mediating specific forms of social reac...

Research paper thumbnail of The developmental course of salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol from 12 to 36 months: Relations with early poverty and later behavior problems

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2015

This study examined the development of baseline autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-p... more This study examined the development of baseline autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) physiological activity from 12 to 36 months as well as antecedents (poverty) and consequents (behavior problems) of individual differences in physiological development. Children (N=179; 50% poor; 56% African American; 52% male) provided saliva samples at 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of age. Latent growth curve models indicated that nonlinear change was evident for both sAA and cortisol, with sAA increasing and cortisol decreasing with age. Children residing in poor households exhibited lower initial levels of sAA, but not cortisol. African-American children showed slightly smaller decreases in cortisol over time. Initial levels of sAA predicted higher levels of internalizing behaviors at 36 months and both initial levels of and total change in sAA predicted higher levels of externalizing behaviors at 36 months. There was no evidence that sAA or cortisol mediated t...

Research paper thumbnail of Issues of Establishment, Consolidation, and Reorganization in Biobehavioral Adaptation

Brain and Mind, 2002

Two strains of male mice have bred over fortygenerations, starting with the work of RobertCairns ... more Two strains of male mice have bred over fortygenerations, starting with the work of RobertCairns and his colleagues, one strain with ahigh level of intra-species aggression, theother a low level of aggression. Thehigh-aggression mice tend to establishdominance hierarchies and particularly fight inthe presence of female mice. Thelow-aggression mice tend, in groups of theirown, to have a high degree of low-intensity,peaceful

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in maternal sensitivity across the first three years: are mothers from different attachment dyads differentially influenced by depressive symptomatology?

Attachment & Human Development, 2008

Hierarchical linear modeling was used to describe longitudinal relations between maternal sensiti... more Hierarchical linear modeling was used to describe longitudinal relations between maternal sensitivity and depressive symptomatology for mothers of children with differing attachment classifications at 36 months of child age using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care. Attachment during toddlerhood was assessed using a modified Strange Situation Paradigm developed by the MacArthur Working Group on Attachment. On average,

Research paper thumbnail of Development, microevolution, and social behavior

Psychological Review, 1990

The central questions of social development--from the roots of mother-infant attachment to the pl... more The central questions of social development--from the roots of mother-infant attachment to the plasticity of aggressive behavior--pivot on the relations between genetic and ontogenetic sources of variance. It is proposed that (a) developmental, experiential, and microevolutionary processes typically collaborate, rather than compete, in achieving social adaptation; (b) social behavior patterns are mostly closed to modification in the course of development and across generations, but avenues of vulnerability exist in ontogeny and microevolution for dynamic, rapid, and reversible changes in key features; (c) a general avenue for change is delay or acceleration in the developmental onset of one or more features of the behavior pattern, which in turn modifies the functions and properties of the adaptive configuration; and (d) the features of social behavior that are open to rapid change in ontogeny should be open as well to rapid changes in microevolution, although different underlying processes may be involved. Empirical findings from the investigation of aggressive interactions are used to illustrate this proposal on the dual genesis and coincident adaptation of social behaviors.

Research paper thumbnail of Rearing conditions alter social reactivity and D1 dopamine receptors in high- and low-aggressive mice

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 1995

tersocial reactivity and D, dopamine receptors in high-and low-aggressive mice. PHARMACOL BIOCHEM... more tersocial reactivity and D, dopamine receptors in high-and low-aggressive mice. PHARMACOL BIOCHEM BEHAV 51(4) 767-773, 1995. -As a result of selective breeding, NC!900 mice exhibit isolation-induced attacks in a social interaction test, whereas NC100 mice do not attack but freeze instead. Administration of the D, receptor agonist dihydrexidine was previously shown to reduce aggression in NC!900 mice and nonagonistic approaches in NC100 mice. This resulted from induction of a marked social reactivity in both selected lines. Because isolation rearing also induces social reactivity, the present experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that D, dopamine receptors mediate isolation-induced social reactivity. Isolation was expected to potentiate the effects of a D, agonist and to increase D, dopamine receptor density. Thus, isolated and groupreared mice were administered dihydrexidine, and their social behavior was compared to vehicle-injected controls. Dihydrexidine induced higher levels of reactivity among isolated than among group-reared animals, especially in NC!900 mice. In independent experiments, increased densities of D, dopamine receptors in the striatum of isolated animals were found, with no change in affinity. These studies suggest an important role for the D, dopamine receptor as a mediator of isolation-induced social reactivity.

Research paper thumbnail of Handling, genetic and housing effects on the mouse stress system, dopamine function, and behavior

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 2002

This research was designed to examine how early stimulation (i.e., handling), subsequent housing ... more This research was designed to examine how early stimulation (i.e., handling), subsequent housing conditions and genetic factors interact to produce adult differences in stress regulation. High-aggressive (NC900) and low-aggressive (NC100) mice were handled for 3 weeks potspartum and were subsequently isolated or grouped until observed as adults in an open field or a dyadic test. In NC100, handling abolished the temporal variations seen in open-field activity among the nonhandled subjects and reduced corticosterone (CORT) activation. In NC900, these two measures were unaffected by handling. Only among handled NC100 did subsequent group rearing further reduce CORT activation. By contrast, handling caused an up-regulation of D1 dopamine receptors in both lines, and, in NC100, this effect was increased by group rearing. In a dyadic encounter with another male mouse, subjects of both lines showed handling effects. NC100 froze less rapidly and NC900 attacked more rapidly. This multifactorial design showed that the systemic effects of handling are modulated by genetic background, and that measures of these effects are affected by experience beyond infancy. Our findings also showed that the effects of handling vary when assessed across different physiological systems and across social and nonsocial testing conditions. D

Research paper thumbnail of Infant and parent factors associated with early maternal sensitivity: A caregiver-attachment systems approach

Infant Behavior and Development, 2007

We examined variations in maternal sensitivity at 6 months of child age as a function of child ne... more We examined variations in maternal sensitivity at 6 months of child age as a function of child negativity and maternal physiology. We expected maternal vagal withdrawal in response to infant negative affect to facilitate the maintenance of sensitivity, but only for mothers of securely attached children. One hundred and forty-eight infant-mother dyads were observed in multiple contexts at 6 months of child age, and associations among maternal and child variables were examined with respect to 12-month attachment quality. Mothers of later securely attached children were more sensitive than mothers of avoidant children. However, sensitivity decreased for all mothers at high levels of infant negative affect. Furthermore, for mothers of avoidant children, vagal withdrawal was associated with sensitivity to child distress. No association was found between vagal withdrawal and sensitivity for mothers of securely attached children. This suggests that mothers of avoidant children may be uniquely challenged by the affective demands of their infants.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of the putative dopamine D3 receptor antagonist PNU 99194A on motor behavior and emotional reactivity in C57BL/6J mice

European Journal of Pharmacology, 1997

Due to the regional expression of D dopamine receptors in limbic areas of the brain, there has be... more Due to the regional expression of D dopamine receptors in limbic areas of the brain, there has been considerable interest in the 3 potential role of this receptor subtype in mediating emotional behavior. Previous studies in habituated rats have shown that the putative Ž . Ž . dopamine D receptor antagonist 5,6-dimethoxy-2-di-n-propylamino indan PNU 99194A increased locomotor behavior. The present 3 study examined the effects PNU 99194A on motor and emotional behaviors in C57BLr6J mice. Motor behavior was assessed in both habituated and nonhabituated mice. Emotional behavior was assessed using the elevated plus-maze and a social context involving an isolated C57BLr6J mouse and a nonaggressive conspecific. In mice habituated to the activity chamber prior to drug administration, PNU Ž . Ž . 99194A increased locomotion and rearing at lower doses 5, 10 mgrkg whereas higher doses 20, 30 mgrkg reduced these behaviors early in the test session. Thigmotaxis was increased independently of the effects on motor behavior. In mice exposed to the activity chamber for the first time, PNU 99194A produced a weak motor activation at lower doses and an initial decrease in motor behavior at higher doses that was followed by an increase in locomotion later in the test session. PNU 99194A had no systematic effects on activity in the elevated plus-maze, but dose-dependently increased flight reactivity in the social reactivity paradigm. These and previous findings raise questions about the role of dopamine D receptors in mediating motor behavior and emotional reactivity as well as the 3 pharmacology of this putative dopamine D receptor antagonist. q 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Research paper thumbnail of Growth and aggression: I. Childhood to early adolescence

Developmental Psychology, 1989

Page 1. Developmental Psychology 1989.Vol.25, No. 2. 320-330 Copyright 1989 by the American Psych... more Page 1. Developmental Psychology 1989.Vol.25, No. 2. 320-330 Copyright 1989 by the American Psychological Association, Inc. 00I2-1649/89/S00.75 Growth and Aggression: 1. Childhood to Early Adolescence Robert B. Caims ...

Research paper thumbnail of Social networks and aggressive behavior: Peer support or peer rejection?

Developmental Psychology, 1988

Studied social networks and aggressive behavior in school in 2 cohorts of boys and girls in the 4... more Studied social networks and aggressive behavior in school in 2 cohorts of boys and girls in the 4th and 7th grades (N = 695). Measures of social networks yielded convergent findings. Highly aggressive subjects (both boys and girls) did not differ from matched control subjects in ...

Research paper thumbnail of Psychophysiological correlates of parenting behavior in mothers of young children

Developmental Psychobiology, 2009

This study investigated HPA and vagal functioning as correlates of parenting in mothers of 175 si... more This study investigated HPA and vagal functioning as correlates of parenting in mothers of 175 six-month-old children. Salivary cortisol indexed HPA functioning and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) reduction indexed vagal regulation. Positive engagement and negative intrusiveness were observed during the Face-to-Face Still Face Paradigm (FFSFP) reunion and a semi-structured free play episode. Mixed modeling was used to examine differences in maternal behaviors across contexts as a function of psychophysiology. Main effects of cortisol levels, as well as interactions with RSA reduction and context, predicted negative intrusiveness. Mothers with high cortisol exhibited more negative intrusiveness if they also had lower RSA reduction. Mothers were also less negatively intrusive during the FFSFP than the free play if they had lower cortisol levels. There were no associations between psychophysiological measures and positive engagement. The findings suggest: (1) that parenting behaviors are associated with maternal stress physiology; (2) considerations of single physiological systems related to parenting behaviors may be incomplete; and (3) type and context of behaviors must be considered when examining biobehavioral associations with parenting. ß 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 51: 650-661, 2009.

Research paper thumbnail of A biological window on psychological development

Developmental Psychobiology, 2008

The articles in this special issue of Developmental Psychobiology were presented in May 2005 at a... more The articles in this special issue of Developmental Psychobiology were presented in May 2005 at an international institute on developmental science hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Conducted annually at one of the participating universities, these meetings are intended to foster collaboration and build consensus on specific theoretical, methodological, and analytical issues faced by developmentally oriented researchers. The overall goal of the 2005 meeting, titled ''Integrating Biology and Developmental Science,'' was to identify different ways by which a developmental study of psychological phenomena in their joint biological and behavioral aspects may shed new light on their organization in the individual. The six contributions to this special issue illustrate how a biological window on developmental processes can further this scientific endeavor. ß 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 1-3, 2008.

Research paper thumbnail of Parasympathetic and sympathetic responses to the strange situation in infants and mothers from avoidant and securely attached dyads

Developmental Psychobiology, 2008

Vagal reactivity and salivary a-amylase (sAA) were assessed in infants (M age ¼ 13.55 months) and... more Vagal reactivity and salivary a-amylase (sAA) were assessed in infants (M age ¼ 13.55 months) and their mothers during the Strange Situation Paradigm (SSP) to investigate differences in physiological responses in a sample of insecure-avoidant and securely-attached dyads (N ¼ 132). Infants classified as insecure-avoidant had significantly higher vagal withdrawal during the SSP and higher sAA overall, suggesting that the avoidant attachment pattern is associated with a greater allostatic load. During separation episodes of the SSP, all mothers showed significant vagal withdrawal, suggesting greater attempts at regulation. During the last reunion, typically the most stressful episode for infants, mothers of secure infants showed greater vagal withdrawal than mothers of insecureavoidant infants, suggesting greater attempts by these mothers at interactive repair. Results for mothers and infants supported the allostatic load theory. ß 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 361-376, 2008.

Research paper thumbnail of Systems theory and cascades in developmental psychopathology

Development and Psychopathology, 2010

In the wake of prominent theoreticians in developmental science, whose contributions we review in... more In the wake of prominent theoreticians in developmental science, whose contributions we review in this article, many developmental psychologists came to endorse a systems approach to understanding how the individual, as it develops, establishes functional relationships to social ecological contexts that from birth to school entry rapidly increase in complexity. The concept of developmental cascade has been introduced in this context to describe lawful processes by which antecedent conditions may be related with varying probabilities to specified outcomes. These are understood as processes by which function at one level or in one domain of behavior affect the organization of competency in later developing domains of general adaptation. Here we propose a developmental sequence by which the developing child acquires regulative capacities that are key to adjustment to a society that demands considerable control of emotional and cognitive functions early in life. We report empirical evidence showing that the acquisition of regulative capacities may be understood as a cascade of shifts in control parameters induced by the progressive integration of biological, transactional, and socioaffective systems over development. We conclude by suggesting how the developmental process may be accessed for effective intervention in populations deemed "at risk" for later problems of psychosocial adjustment.

Research paper thumbnail of Bidirectional genetic and environmental influences on mother and child behavior: The family system as the unit of analyses

Development and Psychopathology, 2007

Family systems theory proposes that an individual&amp... more Family systems theory proposes that an individual's functioning depends on interactive processes within the self and within the context of dyadic family subsystems. Previous research on these processes has focused largely on behavioral, cognitive, and psychophysiological properties of the individual and the dyad. The goals of this study were to explore genetic and environmental interactions within the family system by examining how the dopamine receptor D2 gene (DRD2) A1+ polymorphism in mothers and children relates to maternal sensitivity, how maternal and child characteristics might mediate those effects, and whether maternal sensitivity moderates the association between DRD2 A1+ and child affective problems. Evidence is found for an evocative effect of child polymorphism on parenting behavior, and for a moderating effect of child polymorphism on the association between maternal sensitivity and later child affective problems. Findings are discussed from a family systems perspective, highlighting the role of the family as a context for gene expression in both mothers and children.

Research paper thumbnail of D3 and D2 dopamine receptor agonists differentially modulate isolation-induced social-emotional reactivity in mice

Behavioural Brain Research, 2000

Following isolation housing, mice typically exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to mild socia... more Following isolation housing, mice typically exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to mild social stimulation. Aggression, social avoidance and a variety of defensive behaviors that differ in terms of motor activation (e.g. freezing, escape) can be observed depending on strain. Previous studies suggested that D 2 -like dopamine (DA) receptors play an important, albeit strain specific, role in the mediation of particular forms of defensive behavior. D 3 receptors are subtypes of D 2 -like receptors that are highly expressed in limbic areas of the brain and, therefore, they have been hypothesized to mediate emotional behavior. This study examined the effects of the putative D 3 receptor agonists 7-OH-DPAT and PD128907 on social-emotional behavior in isolated C57BL/6J and A/J mice. These effects were compared with those of the selective D 2 receptor agonist PNU91356A. All three DA agonists increased non-locomotor forms of defensive behavior (e.g. freezing, upright defensive posture). These effects were observed at low doses in C57BL/6J and at higher doses in A/J mice. Only the D 3 receptor agonists were effective in increasing locomotor forms of defensive behavior (i.e. escape, jump) at higher doses. These effects were more pronounced in C57BL/6J mice than A/J mice. The increases in stationary and locomotor defensive behavior were accompanied by marked reduction in social investigation in both the strains. Aggressive behavior was also abolished in the aggressive C57BL/6J strain. These results support previous findings and suggest that DA agonists potentiate defensive behavior and/or social fearfulness. They also suggest that D 3 and D 2 DA receptors differentially modulate the expression of social-emotional reactivity and indicate the importance of strain in examining the effects of DA ligands on emotional behavior.

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic differences in social behavior: Relation to natural killer cell function and susceptibility to tumor development

…, 1993

1. Tested whether certain heritable personality traits would correlate with increased vulnerabili... more 1. Tested whether certain heritable personality traits would correlate with increased vulnerability to tumor development and reduced natural killer (NK) cell function in mice selectively bred for high and low levels of aggression. All socially inhibited Ss developed ...

Research paper thumbnail of Research report D3 and D2 dopamine receptor agonists differentially modulate isolation-induced social-emotional reactivity in mice

Following isolation housing, mice typically exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to mild socia... more Following isolation housing, mice typically exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to mild social stimulation. Aggression, social avoidance and a variety of defensive behaviors that differ in terms of motor activation (e.g. freezing, escape) can be observed depending on strain. Previous studies suggested that D2-like dopamine (DA) receptors play an important, albeit strain specific, role in the mediation of particular forms of

Research paper thumbnail of D2Like Dopamine Receptor Mediation of Social-Emotional Reactivity in a Mouse Model of Anxiety: Strain and Experience Effects

Neuropsychopharmacology, 1998

We examined the effects of the D2-like dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole on social-emotional r... more We examined the effects of the D2-like dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole on social-emotional reactivity in two inbred mouse strains. An important objective of this study was to determine whether these effects could be modulated by differential housing conditions (i.e., isolation versus group housing). Moreover, as motor activity is an important control for the assessment of drug effects on emotional behavior,

Research paper thumbnail of D1 dopamine receptor mediation of social and nonsocial emotional reactivity in mice: effects of housing and strain difference in motor activity

Behavioral neuroscience, 1997

The study examined the effects of isolation housing and the role of D1 dopamine receptors on isol... more The study examined the effects of isolation housing and the role of D1 dopamine receptors on isolation-induced social and nonsocial (acoustic startle) reactivity in mice high (C57BL/6) and low (A) in motor activity. Isolation housing had no effect on acoustic startle but increased strain-specific forms of social reactivity. The D1 agonist dihydrexidine (DHX) increased acoustic startle in isolated mice of both strains, but this effect was more pronounced in C57BL/6 mice. In this strain, DHX and the D1 agonist SKF-81297 increased locomotor forms of social reactivity (e.g., escape, jump), whereas the D1 antagonist SCH-23390 increased stationary reactivity (e.g., freezing). In A mice, DHX and SKF-81297 increased and decreased stationary reactivity, respectively, whereas SCH-23390 had no effect on these behaviors. Administration of SKF-81297 after pretreatment with SCH-23390 or the D2 antagonist sulpiride confirmed the importance of D1 receptors in mediating specific forms of social reac...

Research paper thumbnail of The developmental course of salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol from 12 to 36 months: Relations with early poverty and later behavior problems

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2015

This study examined the development of baseline autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-p... more This study examined the development of baseline autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) physiological activity from 12 to 36 months as well as antecedents (poverty) and consequents (behavior problems) of individual differences in physiological development. Children (N=179; 50% poor; 56% African American; 52% male) provided saliva samples at 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of age. Latent growth curve models indicated that nonlinear change was evident for both sAA and cortisol, with sAA increasing and cortisol decreasing with age. Children residing in poor households exhibited lower initial levels of sAA, but not cortisol. African-American children showed slightly smaller decreases in cortisol over time. Initial levels of sAA predicted higher levels of internalizing behaviors at 36 months and both initial levels of and total change in sAA predicted higher levels of externalizing behaviors at 36 months. There was no evidence that sAA or cortisol mediated t...

Research paper thumbnail of Issues of Establishment, Consolidation, and Reorganization in Biobehavioral Adaptation

Brain and Mind, 2002

Two strains of male mice have bred over fortygenerations, starting with the work of RobertCairns ... more Two strains of male mice have bred over fortygenerations, starting with the work of RobertCairns and his colleagues, one strain with ahigh level of intra-species aggression, theother a low level of aggression. Thehigh-aggression mice tend to establishdominance hierarchies and particularly fight inthe presence of female mice. Thelow-aggression mice tend, in groups of theirown, to have a high degree of low-intensity,peaceful

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in maternal sensitivity across the first three years: are mothers from different attachment dyads differentially influenced by depressive symptomatology?

Attachment & Human Development, 2008

Hierarchical linear modeling was used to describe longitudinal relations between maternal sensiti... more Hierarchical linear modeling was used to describe longitudinal relations between maternal sensitivity and depressive symptomatology for mothers of children with differing attachment classifications at 36 months of child age using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care. Attachment during toddlerhood was assessed using a modified Strange Situation Paradigm developed by the MacArthur Working Group on Attachment. On average,

Research paper thumbnail of Development, microevolution, and social behavior

Psychological Review, 1990

The central questions of social development--from the roots of mother-infant attachment to the pl... more The central questions of social development--from the roots of mother-infant attachment to the plasticity of aggressive behavior--pivot on the relations between genetic and ontogenetic sources of variance. It is proposed that (a) developmental, experiential, and microevolutionary processes typically collaborate, rather than compete, in achieving social adaptation; (b) social behavior patterns are mostly closed to modification in the course of development and across generations, but avenues of vulnerability exist in ontogeny and microevolution for dynamic, rapid, and reversible changes in key features; (c) a general avenue for change is delay or acceleration in the developmental onset of one or more features of the behavior pattern, which in turn modifies the functions and properties of the adaptive configuration; and (d) the features of social behavior that are open to rapid change in ontogeny should be open as well to rapid changes in microevolution, although different underlying processes may be involved. Empirical findings from the investigation of aggressive interactions are used to illustrate this proposal on the dual genesis and coincident adaptation of social behaviors.

Research paper thumbnail of Rearing conditions alter social reactivity and D1 dopamine receptors in high- and low-aggressive mice

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 1995

tersocial reactivity and D, dopamine receptors in high-and low-aggressive mice. PHARMACOL BIOCHEM... more tersocial reactivity and D, dopamine receptors in high-and low-aggressive mice. PHARMACOL BIOCHEM BEHAV 51(4) 767-773, 1995. -As a result of selective breeding, NC!900 mice exhibit isolation-induced attacks in a social interaction test, whereas NC100 mice do not attack but freeze instead. Administration of the D, receptor agonist dihydrexidine was previously shown to reduce aggression in NC!900 mice and nonagonistic approaches in NC100 mice. This resulted from induction of a marked social reactivity in both selected lines. Because isolation rearing also induces social reactivity, the present experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that D, dopamine receptors mediate isolation-induced social reactivity. Isolation was expected to potentiate the effects of a D, agonist and to increase D, dopamine receptor density. Thus, isolated and groupreared mice were administered dihydrexidine, and their social behavior was compared to vehicle-injected controls. Dihydrexidine induced higher levels of reactivity among isolated than among group-reared animals, especially in NC!900 mice. In independent experiments, increased densities of D, dopamine receptors in the striatum of isolated animals were found, with no change in affinity. These studies suggest an important role for the D, dopamine receptor as a mediator of isolation-induced social reactivity.

Research paper thumbnail of Handling, genetic and housing effects on the mouse stress system, dopamine function, and behavior

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 2002

This research was designed to examine how early stimulation (i.e., handling), subsequent housing ... more This research was designed to examine how early stimulation (i.e., handling), subsequent housing conditions and genetic factors interact to produce adult differences in stress regulation. High-aggressive (NC900) and low-aggressive (NC100) mice were handled for 3 weeks potspartum and were subsequently isolated or grouped until observed as adults in an open field or a dyadic test. In NC100, handling abolished the temporal variations seen in open-field activity among the nonhandled subjects and reduced corticosterone (CORT) activation. In NC900, these two measures were unaffected by handling. Only among handled NC100 did subsequent group rearing further reduce CORT activation. By contrast, handling caused an up-regulation of D1 dopamine receptors in both lines, and, in NC100, this effect was increased by group rearing. In a dyadic encounter with another male mouse, subjects of both lines showed handling effects. NC100 froze less rapidly and NC900 attacked more rapidly. This multifactorial design showed that the systemic effects of handling are modulated by genetic background, and that measures of these effects are affected by experience beyond infancy. Our findings also showed that the effects of handling vary when assessed across different physiological systems and across social and nonsocial testing conditions. D

Research paper thumbnail of Infant and parent factors associated with early maternal sensitivity: A caregiver-attachment systems approach

Infant Behavior and Development, 2007

We examined variations in maternal sensitivity at 6 months of child age as a function of child ne... more We examined variations in maternal sensitivity at 6 months of child age as a function of child negativity and maternal physiology. We expected maternal vagal withdrawal in response to infant negative affect to facilitate the maintenance of sensitivity, but only for mothers of securely attached children. One hundred and forty-eight infant-mother dyads were observed in multiple contexts at 6 months of child age, and associations among maternal and child variables were examined with respect to 12-month attachment quality. Mothers of later securely attached children were more sensitive than mothers of avoidant children. However, sensitivity decreased for all mothers at high levels of infant negative affect. Furthermore, for mothers of avoidant children, vagal withdrawal was associated with sensitivity to child distress. No association was found between vagal withdrawal and sensitivity for mothers of securely attached children. This suggests that mothers of avoidant children may be uniquely challenged by the affective demands of their infants.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of the putative dopamine D3 receptor antagonist PNU 99194A on motor behavior and emotional reactivity in C57BL/6J mice

European Journal of Pharmacology, 1997

Due to the regional expression of D dopamine receptors in limbic areas of the brain, there has be... more Due to the regional expression of D dopamine receptors in limbic areas of the brain, there has been considerable interest in the 3 potential role of this receptor subtype in mediating emotional behavior. Previous studies in habituated rats have shown that the putative Ž . Ž . dopamine D receptor antagonist 5,6-dimethoxy-2-di-n-propylamino indan PNU 99194A increased locomotor behavior. The present 3 study examined the effects PNU 99194A on motor and emotional behaviors in C57BLr6J mice. Motor behavior was assessed in both habituated and nonhabituated mice. Emotional behavior was assessed using the elevated plus-maze and a social context involving an isolated C57BLr6J mouse and a nonaggressive conspecific. In mice habituated to the activity chamber prior to drug administration, PNU Ž . Ž . 99194A increased locomotion and rearing at lower doses 5, 10 mgrkg whereas higher doses 20, 30 mgrkg reduced these behaviors early in the test session. Thigmotaxis was increased independently of the effects on motor behavior. In mice exposed to the activity chamber for the first time, PNU 99194A produced a weak motor activation at lower doses and an initial decrease in motor behavior at higher doses that was followed by an increase in locomotion later in the test session. PNU 99194A had no systematic effects on activity in the elevated plus-maze, but dose-dependently increased flight reactivity in the social reactivity paradigm. These and previous findings raise questions about the role of dopamine D receptors in mediating motor behavior and emotional reactivity as well as the 3 pharmacology of this putative dopamine D receptor antagonist. q 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Research paper thumbnail of Growth and aggression: I. Childhood to early adolescence

Developmental Psychology, 1989

Page 1. Developmental Psychology 1989.Vol.25, No. 2. 320-330 Copyright 1989 by the American Psych... more Page 1. Developmental Psychology 1989.Vol.25, No. 2. 320-330 Copyright 1989 by the American Psychological Association, Inc. 00I2-1649/89/S00.75 Growth and Aggression: 1. Childhood to Early Adolescence Robert B. Caims ...

Research paper thumbnail of Social networks and aggressive behavior: Peer support or peer rejection?

Developmental Psychology, 1988

Studied social networks and aggressive behavior in school in 2 cohorts of boys and girls in the 4... more Studied social networks and aggressive behavior in school in 2 cohorts of boys and girls in the 4th and 7th grades (N = 695). Measures of social networks yielded convergent findings. Highly aggressive subjects (both boys and girls) did not differ from matched control subjects in ...

Research paper thumbnail of Psychophysiological correlates of parenting behavior in mothers of young children

Developmental Psychobiology, 2009

This study investigated HPA and vagal functioning as correlates of parenting in mothers of 175 si... more This study investigated HPA and vagal functioning as correlates of parenting in mothers of 175 six-month-old children. Salivary cortisol indexed HPA functioning and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) reduction indexed vagal regulation. Positive engagement and negative intrusiveness were observed during the Face-to-Face Still Face Paradigm (FFSFP) reunion and a semi-structured free play episode. Mixed modeling was used to examine differences in maternal behaviors across contexts as a function of psychophysiology. Main effects of cortisol levels, as well as interactions with RSA reduction and context, predicted negative intrusiveness. Mothers with high cortisol exhibited more negative intrusiveness if they also had lower RSA reduction. Mothers were also less negatively intrusive during the FFSFP than the free play if they had lower cortisol levels. There were no associations between psychophysiological measures and positive engagement. The findings suggest: (1) that parenting behaviors are associated with maternal stress physiology; (2) considerations of single physiological systems related to parenting behaviors may be incomplete; and (3) type and context of behaviors must be considered when examining biobehavioral associations with parenting. ß 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 51: 650-661, 2009.

Research paper thumbnail of A biological window on psychological development

Developmental Psychobiology, 2008

The articles in this special issue of Developmental Psychobiology were presented in May 2005 at a... more The articles in this special issue of Developmental Psychobiology were presented in May 2005 at an international institute on developmental science hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Conducted annually at one of the participating universities, these meetings are intended to foster collaboration and build consensus on specific theoretical, methodological, and analytical issues faced by developmentally oriented researchers. The overall goal of the 2005 meeting, titled ''Integrating Biology and Developmental Science,'' was to identify different ways by which a developmental study of psychological phenomena in their joint biological and behavioral aspects may shed new light on their organization in the individual. The six contributions to this special issue illustrate how a biological window on developmental processes can further this scientific endeavor. ß 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 1-3, 2008.

Research paper thumbnail of Parasympathetic and sympathetic responses to the strange situation in infants and mothers from avoidant and securely attached dyads

Developmental Psychobiology, 2008

Vagal reactivity and salivary a-amylase (sAA) were assessed in infants (M age ¼ 13.55 months) and... more Vagal reactivity and salivary a-amylase (sAA) were assessed in infants (M age ¼ 13.55 months) and their mothers during the Strange Situation Paradigm (SSP) to investigate differences in physiological responses in a sample of insecure-avoidant and securely-attached dyads (N ¼ 132). Infants classified as insecure-avoidant had significantly higher vagal withdrawal during the SSP and higher sAA overall, suggesting that the avoidant attachment pattern is associated with a greater allostatic load. During separation episodes of the SSP, all mothers showed significant vagal withdrawal, suggesting greater attempts at regulation. During the last reunion, typically the most stressful episode for infants, mothers of secure infants showed greater vagal withdrawal than mothers of insecureavoidant infants, suggesting greater attempts by these mothers at interactive repair. Results for mothers and infants supported the allostatic load theory. ß 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 361-376, 2008.

Research paper thumbnail of Systems theory and cascades in developmental psychopathology

Development and Psychopathology, 2010

In the wake of prominent theoreticians in developmental science, whose contributions we review in... more In the wake of prominent theoreticians in developmental science, whose contributions we review in this article, many developmental psychologists came to endorse a systems approach to understanding how the individual, as it develops, establishes functional relationships to social ecological contexts that from birth to school entry rapidly increase in complexity. The concept of developmental cascade has been introduced in this context to describe lawful processes by which antecedent conditions may be related with varying probabilities to specified outcomes. These are understood as processes by which function at one level or in one domain of behavior affect the organization of competency in later developing domains of general adaptation. Here we propose a developmental sequence by which the developing child acquires regulative capacities that are key to adjustment to a society that demands considerable control of emotional and cognitive functions early in life. We report empirical evidence showing that the acquisition of regulative capacities may be understood as a cascade of shifts in control parameters induced by the progressive integration of biological, transactional, and socioaffective systems over development. We conclude by suggesting how the developmental process may be accessed for effective intervention in populations deemed "at risk" for later problems of psychosocial adjustment.

Research paper thumbnail of Bidirectional genetic and environmental influences on mother and child behavior: The family system as the unit of analyses

Development and Psychopathology, 2007

Family systems theory proposes that an individual&amp... more Family systems theory proposes that an individual's functioning depends on interactive processes within the self and within the context of dyadic family subsystems. Previous research on these processes has focused largely on behavioral, cognitive, and psychophysiological properties of the individual and the dyad. The goals of this study were to explore genetic and environmental interactions within the family system by examining how the dopamine receptor D2 gene (DRD2) A1+ polymorphism in mothers and children relates to maternal sensitivity, how maternal and child characteristics might mediate those effects, and whether maternal sensitivity moderates the association between DRD2 A1+ and child affective problems. Evidence is found for an evocative effect of child polymorphism on parenting behavior, and for a moderating effect of child polymorphism on the association between maternal sensitivity and later child affective problems. Findings are discussed from a family systems perspective, highlighting the role of the family as a context for gene expression in both mothers and children.

Research paper thumbnail of D3 and D2 dopamine receptor agonists differentially modulate isolation-induced social-emotional reactivity in mice

Behavioural Brain Research, 2000

Following isolation housing, mice typically exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to mild socia... more Following isolation housing, mice typically exhibit heightened emotional reactivity to mild social stimulation. Aggression, social avoidance and a variety of defensive behaviors that differ in terms of motor activation (e.g. freezing, escape) can be observed depending on strain. Previous studies suggested that D 2 -like dopamine (DA) receptors play an important, albeit strain specific, role in the mediation of particular forms of defensive behavior. D 3 receptors are subtypes of D 2 -like receptors that are highly expressed in limbic areas of the brain and, therefore, they have been hypothesized to mediate emotional behavior. This study examined the effects of the putative D 3 receptor agonists 7-OH-DPAT and PD128907 on social-emotional behavior in isolated C57BL/6J and A/J mice. These effects were compared with those of the selective D 2 receptor agonist PNU91356A. All three DA agonists increased non-locomotor forms of defensive behavior (e.g. freezing, upright defensive posture). These effects were observed at low doses in C57BL/6J and at higher doses in A/J mice. Only the D 3 receptor agonists were effective in increasing locomotor forms of defensive behavior (i.e. escape, jump) at higher doses. These effects were more pronounced in C57BL/6J mice than A/J mice. The increases in stationary and locomotor defensive behavior were accompanied by marked reduction in social investigation in both the strains. Aggressive behavior was also abolished in the aggressive C57BL/6J strain. These results support previous findings and suggest that DA agonists potentiate defensive behavior and/or social fearfulness. They also suggest that D 3 and D 2 DA receptors differentially modulate the expression of social-emotional reactivity and indicate the importance of strain in examining the effects of DA ligands on emotional behavior.