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Creativity and psychopathology: the tenacious mad-genius controversy updated
Publication date: June 2019Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 27Author(s): Dean Keith SimontonThe mad-genius controversy concerning the relation between creativity and psychopathology is one of the oldest and most contentious in the behavioral sciences. Although the prevailing consensus is that the debate is not specious, it is also evident that its scientific resolution is far more complicated than a mere yes–no decision. To illustrate this complexity, this article examines seven central issues that must be addressed in future research: target persons, mental disorders, creative domains, specific hyp...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - September 8, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

What can quantitative measures of semantic distance tell us about creativity?
Publication date: June 2019Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 27Author(s): Yoed N KenettSemantic distance plays an important role in the creative process: The farther one `moves away’ from a conventional idea, the more creative the new idea will likely be. Although intuitive, the role of semantic distance in creativity has been only indirectly examined due to the challenge of its measurement. Recent studies have started applying quantitative measures of semantic distance in creativity research. Such studies complement standard subjective measures of creativity; provide objective measures of the creati...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - September 6, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

A bio-psycho-behavioral model of creativity
Publication date: June 2019Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 27Author(s): Emanuel JaukIn this article, a model of creativity is proposed that seeks to integrate concepts and findings from different lines of creativity research. The model aims to provide an understanding of interindividual differences in real-life creative behavior by considering central psychological constructs, their mutual relationships, and their respective neurobiological bases. It is argued that openness to experience, cognitive creative potential (divergent thinking ability), and intelligence constitute core variables relevant to...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - September 6, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Influences of genomic imprinting on brain function and behavior
Publication date: February 2019Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 25Author(s): Olivia Ho-Shing, Catherine DulacGenomic imprinting is a unique form of epigenetic regulation that is highly prevalent in the brain. The complexity of imprinted regulation in the adult and developing brain, and its central roles in neural processes are becoming increasingly appreciated. Here, we outline recent progress in elucidating the influence of imprinted genes on brain function — from neural development to synaptic function, cognition, and social and emotional behaviors. We review how improved sequencing and analyt...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - August 29, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Chromatin regulation in complex brain disorders
Publication date: February 2019Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 25Author(s): Ryan M Bastle, Ian S. MazeChromatin-related phenomena regulate gene expression by altering the compaction and accessibility of DNA to relevant transcription factors, thus allowing every cell in the body to attain distinct identities and to function properly within a given cellular context. These processes occur not only in the developing central nervous system, but continue throughout the lifetime of a neuron to constantly adapt to changes in the environment. Such changes can be positive or negative, thereby altering the chro...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - August 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

State-change decisions and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex: the importance of time
Publication date: Available online 25 July 2018Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral SciencesAuthor(s): Nils Kolling, Jill X O'ReillyDifferent kinds of decision making can be categorized by their differential effect on the agent’s current and future states as well as the computational challenges they pose. Here, we draw a distinction between within-state and state-change decision-making, and propose that a dedicated decision mechanism exists in dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) that is specialized for state-change decisions. We set out a formal framework in which state change decisions may be made on the basis of the...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 26, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Epigenetic regulation of behavior in Drosophila melanogaster
Publication date: February 2019Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 25Author(s): Ina Anreiter, Stephanie D Biergans, Marla B SokolowskiAnimal behavior is arguably among the most intricate and complex phenotypes. Not only are the molecular processes underlying most behavioral phenotypes exceedingly complex, but these processes are also variable, to allow for behavioral adjustments in response to external and internal conditions. The adaptation of behavior to the current circumstances (i.e. plasticity) can be crucial for survival as a single behavioral strategy may only be beneficial under the right conditi...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 14, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

The epigenetic basis of individuality
Publication date: February 2019Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 25Author(s): J David SweattThis commentary reviews the concept of experience-dependent epigenetic modifications in the CNS as a core mechanism underlying individuality and individuation at the behavioral level. I use the term individuation to refer to the underlying neurobiological processes that result in individuality, with the discussion focusing on individuality of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral repertoire. The review describes recent work supporting the concept of neuroepigenetic mechanisms underlying individuation, possible ro...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 14, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Language acquisition as skill learning
Publication date: Available online 25 April 2018Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral SciencesAuthor(s): Nick Chater, Morten H ChristiansenLanguage acquisition researchers have often viewed children as ‘mini-linguists,’ attempting to infer abstract knowledge of language from exposure to their native language. From this perspective, the challenge of acquisition can seem so formidable that meeting it would appear to require that much of this knowledge must be built-in, as a language instinct or universal grammar. From this viewpoint, language acquisition is also disconnected from language processing, and from the acquisi...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Sex differences in the nicotinic acetylcholine and dopamine receptor systems underlying tobacco smoking addiction
Publication date: Available online 26 April 2018Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral SciencesAuthor(s): Terril L .Verplaetse, Evan D Morris, Sherry A McKee, Kelly P CosgroveConverging lines of evidence suggest that men generally smoke for nicotine-related reinforcement, whereas women smoke for non-nicotine factors. Women have more difficulty quitting smoking and are less responsive to nicotine replacement therapies than men, underscoring the importance of examining sex differences in the neurochemical mechanisms underlying nicotine-motivated behavior. We review the recent imaging literature on sex differences in the nicot...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Vocal learning: a language-relevant trait in need of a broad cross-species approach
Publication date: Available online 27 April 2018Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral SciencesAuthor(s): Ella Z Lattenkamp, Sonja C VernesAlthough humans are unmatched in their capacity to produce speech and learn language, comparative approaches in diverse animal models are able to shed light on the biological underpinnings of language-relevant traits. In the study of vocal learning, a trait crucial for spoken language, passerine birds have been the dominant models, driving invaluable progress in understanding the neurobiology and genetics of vocal learning despite being only distantly related to humans. To date, there is...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Editorial overview: The evolution of language as a neurobiological system
Publication date: Available online 27 June 2018Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral SciencesAuthor(s): Christopher I Petkov, William D. Marslen-Wilson (Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences)
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Editorial overview: Apathy and motivation
Publication date: Available online 3 July 2018Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral SciencesAuthor(s): Masud Husain, Christopher R Pryce (Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences)
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Economic choice: the foraging perspective
Publication date: December 2018Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 24Author(s): Benjamin Y HaydenForaging theory offers an alternative foundation for understanding economic choice, one that sees economic choices as the outcome of psychological processes that evolved to help our ancestors search for food. Most of the choices encountered by foragers are between pursuing an encountered prey (accept) and ignoring it in favor of continued search (reject). Binary choices, which typically occur between simultaneously presented items, are special case, and are resolved through paired alternating accept–reject ...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Hypothalamic survival circuits related to social and predatory defenses and their interactions with metabolic control, reproductive behaviors and memory systems
Publication date: December 2018Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Volume 24Author(s): Newton Sabino CanterasThe hypothalamus may be viewed as the central piece of the survival circuits and is responsible for organizing endocrine, autonomic and behavioral responses to guarantee the survival of both the individual and the species. The hypothalamus is largely known to control the three basic classes of behavior required for animal survival, namely, ingestive, defensive, and reproductive behaviors. Over the years, a great deal has been learned regarding the hypothalamic circuits organizing these classes of behavio...
Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - July 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research