Interactive rhythms across species: The evolutionary biology of animal chorusing and turn-taking

The study of human language is progressively moving toward comparative and interactive frameworks, extending the concept of turn‐taking to animal communication. While such an endeavor will help us understand the interactive origins of language, any theoretical account for cross‐species turn‐taking should consider three key points. First, animal turn‐taking must incorporate biological studies on animal chorusing, namely how different species coordinate their signals over time. Second, while concepts employed in human communication and turn‐taking, such as intentionality, are still debated in animal behavior, lower level mechanisms with clear neurobiological bases can explain much of animal interactive behavior. Third, social behavior, interactivity, and cooperation can be orthogonal, and the alternation of animal signals need not be cooperative. Considering turn‐taking a subset of chorusing in the rhythmic dimension may avoid overinterpretation and enhance the comparability of future empirical work

Abstinence self-efficacy, mood, and treatment outcomes in emerging adults with substance dependence

This study examined the relationship between abstinence self-efficacy (ASE), depression, psychological distress and treatment outcomes in 18 to 24 year olds with substance dependence. Three hundred and three participants completed questionnaires and interviews at three time points during a 28-day twelve-step based inpatient program, and at 1-month and 3-months post-discharge. ASE was measured with the Alcohol and Drug Use Self-Efficacy scale; psychological distress was assessed with the Brief Symptom Inventory 18; and depression diagnoses were determined from the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV. We tested the association between intake ASE, distress, and depression. Random coefficient regression analyses focused on changes in ASE during and after treatment, with distress and depression included as moderators. We used distress and depression to predict post-treatment outcomes using ordinary least squares regression. At intake, individuals with depression and high distress had significantly lower ASE. During treatment, depression and distress did not moderate changes in ASE, although individuals with depression and high distress had consistently lower ASE throughout treatment. Depression and distress did not predict treatment outcomes, in part because of invariability in 1- and 3-month outcomes. Post-treatment, ASE did not change in a consistent manner, and changes for the most part were not moderated by depression or distress. Among the abstinent, changes in post-treatment ASE did depend on distress, in that those with above average distress at end of treatment increased in ASE from end of treatment to the 3-month follow-up. ASE is a potential byproduct of 12-step based treatment, but on the whole does not behave differently for the depressed versus non-depressed

Weighing in: Therapeutic benefits of online communities for individuals with eating disorders

The treatment of eating disorders involves a complex approach. In recent years, a number of websites have developed in an attempt to meet the needs of individuals struggling with this set of disorders. Some of these websites are nationally recognized organizations dedicated to improve treatment and provide educational resources, while other websites have been authored by individuals with eating disorders in an attempt to create a safe community of support. This project explores various components found in online communities, examines characteristics of eating disorders, and evaluates the worth of such resources, even when in perceived contrast with traditional treatment. Rather than work against one another, this study looks at ways in which varying approaches to treatment might co-exist in a complementary manner, to provide a more comprehensive set of resources for clients with eating disorders