Julio Cesar de Rose

The increase in diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in adulthood and old age contrasts with the invisibility of these populations in neuroendocrine research. The continuous effort of social adaptation generates a severe allostatic load, impacting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, whose stress level can be measured via salivary cortisol. To synthesize the available scientific knowledge on the evaluation of salivary cortisol in adults and older adults with ASD. This is an integrative review guided by the PRISMA protocol. Data sources included VHL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (up to December 2024). The quality of the studies was assessed using the MMAT tool. Seven empirical studies were included (n=166). The findings indicate chronic dysregulation of the HPA axis in adult autism, marked by strong anticipatory stress in social evaluations as well as sleep impairments. The continuous wear and tear results in axis burnout and conditions of daytime hypocortisolism. However, technology-mediated interventions (robots and virtual reality) proved to be effective in reducing this reactivity due to the predictability of the environment. Methodologically, a profound lack of standardization was observed in sample collections and laboratory assays. Critical demographic biases were also identified: the samples are limited to young adults (up to 44 years old), predominantly white men (78%), and with preserved IQ. Salivary cortisol highlights the high biological cost of the autistic experience. Clinical advancement in the area requires laboratory standardization and the systematic inclusion of older adults, women, racial minorities, and individuals with higher support needs.Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Salivary Cortisol; HPA Axis; Aging; Physiological Stress.

A common method for studying derived relations is the matching‐to‐sample (MTS) preparation. However, certain aspects of its training format potentially hinder the emergence of new relations. The training version of the implicit relational assessment procedure (training‐IRAP) may present an alternative. Our primary objective involved comparing the effectiveness of delayed MTS(2s) and training‐IRAP procedures on participant yield. The secondary objective involved comparing mean number of training blocks per procedure. Given additional components in the standard training‐IRAP not found in MTS, changes were made to the former, producing the modified training‐IRAP and delayed modified training‐IRAP(2s). Sixty‐eight typically developing students participated in a between‐subjects design. Two classes comprising five abstract stimuli were employed. Yield was analyzed at three levels, 91.67, 83.33, and 79% correct responses, with at least 87.5% correct responses at baseline mixed‐block maintenance. All participants maintained baseline criterion during tests. At the three levels of analyses, the modified versions of training‐IRAP produced higher yield, followed by DMTS(2s) and then the standard training‐IRAP. Mean number of blocks to complete training phases was lowest for the delayed MTS(2s) and delayed modified training‐IRAP(2s) groups. Limitations and implications of the findings toward greater precision, scope, and depth in conceptual, experimental, and applied settings are discussed.

The development of procedures to assess the psychological functions of stimuli has long been a prevalent endeavor in psychological science. It can be argued that one of the most influential of such procedures is the implicit association test (IAT), which was conceived as a measure of implicit attitudes within social-cognitive psychology. Two other procedures, developed within a behavior-analytic theoretical framework, were inspired by the IAT: the implicit relational assessment procedure (IRAP) and the function acquisition speed test (FAST). The current article aims to thoroughly describe and compare the IAT, the IRAP and the FAST, focusing on their procedural characteristics and theoretical backgrounds, before then considering theoretical implications specific to each procedure. Finally, we briefly reflect on a number of theoretical implications that arose from the foregoing comparisons. In so doing, several points of contact and departure are highlighted. We conclude by advocating for an equitable and comprehensive evaluation of these methodologies when considering their use within the experimental analysis of human behavior.

Research on human language started to change when Murray Sidman and colleagues demonstrated that a participant was able to derive unreinforced stimulus relations after conditional discrimination training. This work provided the basis for a novel approach to research on symbolic behavior and fostered the development of three main theoretical accounts: stimulus equivalence (SE), relational frame theory (RFT), and naming theory (NT). These accounts unfolded in the last decades of the twentieth century, promoting intense debate and discussion within behavior analysis. Although experimental research emerging from these three accounts is still highly active today, the theoretical discussions have, to a large extent, faded. Considering the importance of rekindling a dialogue, this article aims to describe the differences among the three accounts, but focus on their common points. We conclude by arguing that developing a more complete behavior-analytic account of human language would be served best by considering both research and theoretical analyses of SE, RFT and NT. Finally, we provide examples of two successful research groups that adopted this approach and in doing so have advanced our understanding of language within behavior analysis.

Completando 50 anos de carreira, que prossegue com muito dinamismo, Deisy de Souza se destaca por uma produção científica notável e por uma liderança que contribuiu para a fundação e/ou manutenção de programas de ensino, grupos e redes de pesquisa, revistas e sociedades científicas. Na sua atuação como pesquisadora e nas suas realizações como liderança acadêmica, Deisy esteve sempre voltada para o bem coletivo, para levar a ciência a beneficiar a população e contribuir para um mundo melhor.