Social buffering of plasma corticosterone and amygdala responses of young rats following exposure to periorbital shock: Implications for eyeblink conditioning development.

The developmental onset of aversive learning processes depends on complex interactions between endocrine, neural, and social influences. Emergence of avoidance conditioning in rat pups is triggered by elevated plasma corticosterone activating the amygdala. Further, the mother's ability to buffer the corticosterone response delays the onset of avoidance in ˜2-week-old pups.

Trusting Autonomous Security Robots: The Role of Reliability and Stated Social Intent.

Objective: This research examined the effects of reliability and stated social intent on trust, trustworthiness, and one's willingness to endorse use of an autonomous security robot (ASR).

Background: Human-robot interactions in the domain of security is plausible, yet we know very little about what drives acceptance of ASRs. Past research has used static images and game-based simulations to depict the robots versus actual humans interacting with actual robots.

Central oxytocin alters cortisol and behavioral responses of guinea pig pups during isolation in a novel environment.

The neuropeptide oxytocin plays key roles in social bonding and stress reduction, and thus appears to be a likely mediator of maternal buffering of infant stress responses. In the guinea pig, the presence of the mother in a threatening environment buffers cortisol elevations as well as active (vocalizing) and passive (e.g.

Trusting Robocop: Gender-Based Effects on Trust of an Autonomous Robot.

Little is known regarding public opinion of autonomous robots. Trust of these robots is a pertinent topic as this construct relates to one's willingness to be vulnerable to such systems. The current research examined gender-based effects of trust in the context of an autonomous security robot.

Central neuroimmune activity and depressive-like behavior in response to repeated maternal separation and injection of LPS.

Disruption of attachment relations in early life is linked to greater vulnerability to depressive illness at later ages. Evidence suggests this process involves stress-induced activation of central inflammatory factors, though the specific mediators and processes involved are not known. We used a guinea pig model in which effects of maternal separation appear more clearly due to absence of the attachment figure than is the case for other laboratory rodents.