On the assumptions that we make about the world around us : a conceptual framework for feature transformation effects

Various phenomena such as halo effects, spontaneous trait inferences, and evaluative conditioning have in common that assumptions about object features (e.g., whether a person is intelligent or likeable) are influenced by other object features (e.g., whether that person is attractive or co-occurs with other liked persons). Surprisingly, these phenomena have rarely been related to each other, most likely because different phenomena are described using different terms. To overcome this barrier, we put forward a conceptual framework that can be used to describe a wide range of these phenomena. After introducing the four core concepts of the framework, we illustrate how it can be applied to various phenomena. Doing so helps to reveal similarities and differences between those phenomena, thus improving communication and promoting interactions between different areas of research. Finally, we illustrate the generative power of the framework by discussing some of the new research questions that it highlights

A Model of Trust Processes in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review

Purpose of Review: Unstable relationships are a core feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Impairments in trust processes (i.e., appraisal and learning regarding others’ trustworthiness) can subserve interpersonal problems associated with BPD, but the determinants, mechanisms, consequences, and variations in trust impairments among individuals with BPD remain poorly characterized. Thus, a better understanding of such impairments could help target interventions that address the interpersonal problems of individuals with BPD beyond emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and aggression. Recent Findings: We conducted a pre-registered systematic review of empirical studies on trust processes and BPD features (k = 29). Results are organized around a heuristic model of trust processes in BPD comprising the following stages: developmental factors, prior beliefs and dispositions, situation perception, emotional states, trust appraisal, behavioral manifestations, and trust learning. Summary: Based on the synthesis of the findings, we recommended directions for future research and clinical assessment and intervention, such as managing trust during the early stages of therapy and considering improvements in trust processes as a central mechanism of change in treating individuals with BPD

Structural filtering of greylevel images from principal curvatures analysis

A new digital images smoothing method, named structural filtering, is proposed which uses a 3D representation of greylevel images (z =f(x, y)) and their description with principal curvature features . The organization of the horizontal projections of the principal curvature directions is analysed in order to determine a direction which well indicates the orientation of the local structure of the image . If such a direction is found, filtering is performed by averaging with a directional convolution mask according to that direction, if not, a classical 3 x 3 mean filter is used . This filter permits on one hand to cut off the noise while preserving step edges and ridges, on the other hand, it allows the schematization of the principal structures of the image . This last capability has never being obtained before with classical filters . Experimental results are shown through real images of textures made of complex structures and compared with those obtained with a 3 x 3 median filter . These results are then validated by primitive extraction using classical skeletonization or edge detection algorithms . At last, the behavior of the filter in function of the iteration number is analysed in order to show up its good convergence property .Une nouvelle méthode de filtrage d'images digitalisées, appelée filtrage structurel, est proposée . Elle utilise une repésentation tridimensionnelle des images à niveaux de gris (x, y, z=f(x, y)) et leur description à partir des courbures principales calculées en chaque point de la surface . L'organisation des projections horizontales des courbures principales est analysée en vue de déterminer une direction rendant compte de l'orientation locale de la structure au point considéré . Si une direction de filtrage peut être déterminée, elle sert de support à un masque moyenneur directionnel de convolution, sinon un masque moyenneur classique bidimensionnel de taille 3 x 3 est appliqué . Ce filtre permet ainsi non seulement d'éliminer le bruit en préservant les lignes de transition et de crête de l'image, mais aussi, il autorise la schématisation des structures présentes dans l'image originale, cette dernière propriété n'ayant jamais été jusqu'alors obtenue avec des méthodes de filtrage classiques . Des résultats expérimentaux sont montrés à partir d'images réelles de texture composées de structures complexes en les comparant avec ceux obtenus à l'aide d'un filtre médian 3 x 3 . Ces résultats sont ensuite validés en effectuant une extraction de primitives telles que les lignes de squelette ou de contour . Enfin, une analyse du comportement du filtre en fonction du nombre d'itérations est faite qui met en valeur une propriété de bonne convergence

Astrocytes' Contribution to Adult Neurogenesis in Physiology and Alzheimer's Disease.

Adult neurogenesis is one of the most drastic forms of brain plasticity in adulthood and there is a growing body of evidence showing that, in the hippocampus, this process contributes to mechanisms of memory as well as depression. Interestingly, adult neurogenesis is tightly regulated by the neurogenic niche, which provides a structural and molecular scaffold for stem cell proliferation and the differentiation and functional integration of new neurons. In this review, we highlight the role of astrocytes in the regulation of adult neurogenesis in the context of cognitive function. We also discuss how the changes in astrocytes function may dysregulate adult neurogenesis and contribute to cognitive impairment in the context of Alzheimer's disease

Genetic manipulation of adult-born hippocampal neurons rescues memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Richetin et al. demonstrate that retroviral expression of the transcription factor NeuroD1 in neural progenitor cells of the adult mouse hippocampus promotes differentiation, maturation and synaptic integration of newborn granule cells in vivo. When applied to a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, the gene-targeting strategy abolishes hippocampus-dependent memory deficit

Automatic processes in aggression: Conceptual and assessment issues

This editorial to the special section “Automatic Processes in Aggression: Conceptual and Assessment Issues” introduces major research lines, all of which culminate in recent advances in the measurement of automatic components in aggressive behavior. Researchers of almost all psychological disciplines have stressed increasingly the importance of automatic components to gain a comprehensive psychological understanding of human behavior. This is reflected in current dual‐process theories according to which both controlled processes and rather automatic processes elicit behavior in a synergistic or antagonistic way. As a consequence, complementing self‐reports (assumed to assess predominantly controlled processes) by the use of implicit measures (assumed to assess predominantly automatic processes) has become common practice in various domains. We familiarize the reader with the three contributions that illuminate how such a distinction can further our understanding of human aggression. At the same time, it becomes evident that there is a long way that method‐oriented researchers need to go before we can fully comprehend how to best measure automatic processes in aggression. We see the present special section as an invigorating call to contribute to this endeavor

Sex Differences in the Perceived Dominance and Prestige of Women With and Without Cosmetics

Human social status has long been of interest to evolutionary and social psychologists. The question of who gets to control resources and be a leader has garnered a lot of attention from these and other fields, and this thesis examines evidence for there being two different mechanisms of achieving high status, and their correlates. The mechanisms are 1) Dominance: being aggressive, manipulative and forcing others to follow you, and 2) Prestige: possessing qualities which make others freely follow you. Chapter 1 is an introductory chapter in which I explain selection pressures, group formation, and the need for social hierarchies; I then describe the two proposed methods of attaining social status and how facial characteristics can give clues as to an individual’s social status. In Chapter 2, my first experimental chapter, I examined how faces created to appear either high in dominance or high in prestige were judged with respect to those traits as well as personality characteristics. Taking this further, in Chapter 3, I looked at how natural variation in real faces would reflect differences in other- and self-perceived ratings of dominance and prestige. Chapter 4 served to examine whether, given a set of words related to social status, I would find differences in what words were placed into dominant or prestige categories. Findings within these chapters are consistent with dominance and prestige being separable methods of attaining high status, from differences in facial appearance (Chapter 2 and 3), to personality characteristics (Chapter 2), to word usage (Chapter 4). Once I had established that these were two distinct routes to achieving high status, I chose to focus on dominance in Chapter 5 and explored the conceptual relationships between dominance and facial expressions. I found that manipulating perceptions of dominance affected how intense expressions of anger, sadness, and fear were perceived (Chapter 5). As there has been a paucity of research in the area of women’s social status, in Chapter 6, I went on to explore what effects cosmetics use in women would have on their perceived social status. I found differences in how men and women perceived women wearing cosmetics, which again points to a distinction between dominance and prestige. My thesis then presents a broad view of the two different mechanisms for attaining high status. Using new methods not otherwise used in exploring dominance and prestige I was able to explore correlates and indicators, as well as perceptions of both strategies. These findings will allow us to determine who might be capable of attaining social status, which of the two methods they might use, as well as what implicit associations we hold about each. They will also open doors for future research into the two strategies, and even help interpret previous research, as many previous studies simply relate to high status and do not distinguish between dominance and prestige

Is environmental sensitivity a unique trait? A multi-sample study on the association between sensitivity, personality, and psychological adjustment

We aimed to investigate the extent to which Environmental Sensitivity (ES), as captured by the Highly Sensitive Person, 12-item scale (HSP-12), is distinguishable from traditional personality traits, contributes to psychological adjustment over and above personality, and if this contribution depends on the rearing environment. We also explored the HSP-12 psychometric properties and invariance across countries (UK and Italy) and samples (university and general population). Across multiple adult samples (N = 4459), we provided evidence that ES can be reliably assessed with the HSP-12 across countries and groups. We also showed that ES is distinguishable from established personality traits and is associated with lower well-being and negative affect, beyond personality. An environment perceived as caring played a buffering role

The Multifunctional Sorting Protein PACS-2 Controls Mitophagosome Formation in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells through Mitochondria-ER Contact Sites.

Mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs) are crucial for lipid transport and synthesis, calcium exchange, and mitochondrial functions, and they also act as signaling platforms. These contact sites also play a critical role in the decision between autophagy and apoptosis with far reaching implications for cell fate. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis accelerates atherogenesis and the progression of advanced lesions, leading to atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability and medial degeneration. Though the successful autophagy of damaged mitochondria promotes VSMC survival against pro-apoptotic atherogenic stressors, it is unknown whether MAMs are involved in VSMC mitophagy processes. Here, we investigated the role of the multifunctional MAM protein phosphofurin acidic cluster sorting protein 2 (PACS-2) in regulating VSMC survival following a challenge by atherogenic lipids. Using high-resolution confocal microscopy and proximity ligation assays, we found an increase in MAM contacts as in PACS-2-associated MAMs upon stimulation with atherogenic lipids. Correspondingly, the disruption of MAM contacts by PACS-2 knockdown impaired mitophagosome formation and mitophagy, thus potentiating VSMC apoptosis. In conclusion, our data shed new light on the significance of the MAM modulatory protein PACS-2 in vascular cell physiopathology and suggest MAMs may be a new target to modulate VSMC fate and favor atherosclerotic plaque stability