RESUMEN

Knowledge about empathy is part of the study of artistic expressions, among which stand out works of personalities such as the Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci, who was concerned with the connection between science and art during his creative research full of imagination and sensitivity to nature and human anatomy. The word empathy emerged among critics of German art as the term einfühlung, which was used within the aesthetic bias by philosophers and art historians. It emphasized the idea that a viewer perceiving an object could establish a link between it and themselves, projecting the object 'into themselves'. That is, the artwork could be experienced by the observer as if the viewer belonged predominantly to the object, in such a way that its characteristics could be actually felt through the expression of emotions, feelings and thoughts. This analysis of art appreciation required a great deal of knowledge and contemplation of nature, as understood by the German Romanticists, who had enormous admiration for da Vinci and his universal and systematic mind-a mind which reacted against formalisms, building his intellectual and sensory systems based on both his observation of nature and his own criteria. In particular, the art of painting for Leonardo was a way to demonstrate a mental discourse, just as the most important aspect of human portraits is to represent-in gestures and facial expressions-the states of mind and emotions. These are facts that German Romanticists tried to explain as the relationship between empathy and a work of art. The present manuscript aims to describe empathy from an artistic view, considering the roots of this word in German Romanticism; to comment about Leonardo da Vinci and the expression of art in the Renaissance; and, finally, to discuss the expression of his art in relation to empathy.

RESUMEN

The present study evaluated the involvement of α-adrenoceptors of the median raphe nucleus (MRN) in satiated rats, in food and water intake and motor behaviour. Control groups were treated with saline (SAL) or adrenaline (ADR), injected into the MRN seven minutes after injection of the vehicle used to solubilize the antagonists, propylene glycol (PLG) or SAL. Experimental groups were treated with an α-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin (α1, 20 or 40 nmol) or yohimbine (α2, 20 or 40 nmol) or phentolamine (non-selective α, 20 or 40 nmol), followed (later) by injection of ADR or SAL. Behaviour was recorded for 30 min. The injection of ADR and the blockade of α1 receptors resulted in hyperphagia whereas blocking α2 or α1 and α2 simultaneously did not change feeding behaviour. Pre-treatment with prazosin, followed by injection of ADR was not able to cause an increase in the amount of food ingested, while the higher dose of the α1 antagonist reduced the latency to start feeding. Pre-treatment with prazosin also caused hyperactivity. However, pre-treatment with phentolamine or yohimbine was able to block ADR-induced feeding. The present study supports the hypothesis that there is a tonic activation of α1-adrenoceptors in the MRN in satiated rats, which activates an inhibitory influence in areas that control food intake. Injection of ADR seems to activate α2 receptors, resulting in a decrease in the availability of endogenous catecholamines, which reduces the release of the signal that inhibits food intake, leading to hyperphagia.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Serotonergic neurons in the median raphe nucleus (MnR) are stimulated by α(1)-adrenergic agonists and inhibited by α(2)-agonists. This study investigated the effect of the blockade of the MnR α(1)-adrenergic receptors of free feeding rats as an attempt to elucidate the functional role of these receptors in the control of feeding behavior. In addition, an α(2)-receptor antagonist was also administered in the MnR in order to strengthen the previous suggestion that α(2)-adrenergic receptors participate in the control of feeding behavior, probably decreasing the facilitatory influence on MnR serotonergic neurons. The α(1)-adrenergic antagonist prazosin (PRA, 40 nmol) or vehicle was injected into the MnR 15 min before treatment with phenylephrine (PHE, 0.2 nmol). The α(2)-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine (YOH, 40 nmol) was administered 15 min before clonidine (CLO, 20 nmol) or vehicle in free-feeding rats. After the injections, the animals were placed in the feeding chamber for 30 min to evaluate the ingestive and non-ingestive behaviors. At the end of the experiment the quantity of food and water consumed were measured. While treatment with PRA in the MnR followed by PHE did not change the feeding behavior, PRA injection alone into the MnR caused hyperphagia accompanied by a reduction in the latency to start eating, an increase in feeding frequency and an increase in the feeding duration. Pretreatment with YOH in the MnR blocked the hyperphagic effect induced by CLO. The present data reinforce our previous suggestion that the MnR α(2)-adrenergic receptors participate in the control of feeding behavior, probably decreasing the facilitatory influence on MnR serotonergic neurons of free-feeding animals. Furthermore, these results indicate that this influence is tonically mediated by α(1)-adrenergic receptors upon MnR neurons, which inhibit food intake.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

This study investigated the role of MnR α1-adrenergic receptors in the control of anxiety-like and feeding behaviors and attempted to reveal a possible functional association between both behaviors. The α1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (PHE) (at doses of 0.2, 2, 6, 20 nmol) or saline was injected into the MnR or into the pontine nucleus (Pn) of free-feeding rats. The animals were exposed to the elevated plus maze to analyse spatial-temporal and ethological variables. Subsequently, the ingestive and non-ingestive behaviors were recorded during 30 min and feeding and drinking behaviors were measured. Both in the elevated plus-maze and in the feeding chamber, all PHE doses injected into the MnR decreased the risk assessment frequency, an ethological parameter of anxiolytic-like effect. The spatial-temporal variables remained unchanged after PHE treatment. Feeding behavior was not affected by PHE into the MnR. The anxiety-like or ingestive behaviors were not affected by PHE treatment in the Pn, an area adjacent to the MnR. These data indicate that α1-adrenergic receptors within MnR participate in the control of anxiety-like behaviors. The absence of effects on feeding behavior after MnR α1-adrenergic activation could be due to an elevated α1-adrenergic tonus and its possible strong facilitatory influence on 5-HT neurons within MnR. Furthermore, the present results suggest that anxiety-like and feeding behaviors controled by MnR adrenergic circuits operate by independent neural pathways.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Serotonergic neurons in the median raphe nucleus (MnR) are stimulated by alpha(1)-adrenergic agonists and inhibited by alpha(2) agonists. This study investigated the participation of MnR alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors in the control of anxiety-like behavior and feeding as an attempt to establish a functional association between these behaviors. The alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist clonidine (CLON) was injected into the MnR (0, 0.2, 2, 6, 20nmol), into the pontine nucleus (Pn) or into the mesencephalic reticular formation (mRt) (0.2, 20nmol) of free-feeding rats. The animals were exposed to the elevated plus-maze to evaluate spatial-temporal and ethological variables. Subsequently, the ingestive and non-ingestive behaviors were recorded during 30min and the quantity of food and water consumed were measured. The lowest dose of CLON injected into the MnR decreased the total risk assessment (TRA) frequency, an ethological parameter of anxiolytic-like effect, but did not change feeding behavior. The highest dose of CLON injected into the MnR increased the TRA frequency, an anxiogenic-like effect. Similar result was observed after CLON injected into the Pn and mRt at the highest dose. In addition, clonidine at the highest dose caused hyperphagy accompanied by a reduction in the latency to start eating and an increase in feeding frequency when injected into the MnR but not in the Pn or mRt. These data indicate that MnR alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors participate in the control of anxiety-like and feeding behaviors, probably decreasing the facilitatory influence on MnR serotonergic neurons. The present results suggest that these behaviors involve independent neural pathways.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The present study examined the effects of local injections of adrenaline (AD) or noradrenaline (NA) in equimolar doses (6, 20, and 60 nmol) into the median raphe nucleus (MRN) on ingestive and non-ingestive behaviors of free-feeding rats. The results showed that the treatment with AD at doses of 20 and 60 nmol increased food intake. While the hyperphagic response evoked by 60 nmol dose of AD was accompanied by a reduction of the latency to start feeding and an increase in the frequency of feeding, the 20 nmol dose of AD was unable to change these behavioral aspects of feeding response. The meal size and non-ingestive behaviors were not affected by AD treatment in the MRN. While water intake remained unchanged after the treatment with 20 nmol of AD in the MRN, this dose decreased the latency to start drinking. Feeding and drinking behaviors were not affected by treatment with NA in the MRN. These data suggest that adrenergic receptors of MRN participate in mechanisms that control food intake initiation or appetite. In addition, our results also indicate that the availability of energetic substrate could affect the adrenergic influence on MRN neurons since previous data indicated that the injection of AD into the MRN of food restricted rats decreased food intake.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

O controle motor de deficientes mentais é alterado pela insuficiência de informações entre os comandos aferente e eferente. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil motor de crianças portadoras de deficiência mental de grau moderado. O grupo de estudo foi constituído por 20 crianças, ambos os sexos, entre 7 e 15 anos, alunos das APAEs dos municípios de Biguaçu e Palhoça/SC, em 2005. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizada a Escala de Desenvolvimento Motor "EDM". O tratamento estatístico foi realizado com o programa Epi Info 6.0. A todas as habilidades motoras avaliadas foi atribuído nível "muito inferior". O quociente da motricidade fina obteve o menor déficit, sendo que ao quociente da organização temporal atribuiu-se o maior déficit. Tais resultados mostraram a estreita relação entre o potencial cognitivo e a conduta motora de deficientes mentais de grau moderado. Os déficits funcionais observados entre deficientes mentais podem ser conseqüentes à inadequação de suas habilidades psicomotoras, interferindo no desenvolvimento cognitivo, afetivo e social.(AU)

The motor control of mentally retarded persons is altered by the insufficient information between afferent and efferent commands. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the motor profile of children and adolescents with moderate mental retardation. The study group was composed of 20 male and female children and adolescents between 7 and 15 years old, students attending the APAEs (Association of Parents and Friends of the Handicapped) at the cities of Biguaçu and Palhoça, state of Santa Catarina. Data were collected by means of the Motor Development Scale "MDS"14. Statistical treatment was made by Epi. Info 6.0. The level of all the motor abilities was evaluated as "very inferior". The fine motricity quotient got the lowest deficit while the quotient of temporal organization obtained the highest deficit. These results showed the close relation between the cognitive potential and the motor conduct of persons with moderate mental retardation. Their functional deficits can be a consequence of their inadequate psychomotor abilities, interfering in cognitive, affective and social development.(AU)

RESUMEN

O controle motor de deficientes mentais é alterado pela insuficiência de informações entre os comandos aferente e eferente. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil motor de crianças portadoras de deficiência mental de grau moderado. O grupo de estudo foi constituído por 20 crianças, ambos os sexos, entre 7 e 15 anos, alunos das APAEs dos municípios de Biguaçu e Palhoça/SC, em 2005. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizada a Escala de Desenvolvimento Motor EDM. O tratamento estatístico foi realizado com o programa Epi Info 6.0. A todas as habilidades motoras avaliadas foi atribuído nível muito inferior. O quociente da motricidade fina obteve o menor déficit, sendo que ao quociente da organização temporal atribuiu-se o maior déficit. Tais resultados mostraram a estreita relação entre o potencial cognitivo e a conduta motora de deficientes mentais de grau moderado. Os déficits funcionais observados entre deficientes mentais podem ser conseqüentes à inadequação de suas habilidades psicomotoras, interferindo no desenvolvimento cognitivo, afetivo e social.

Asunto(s)