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In two experiments, we examined whether or not a loss of control over food availability would interfere with subsequent two-way shuttle-escape learning. Rats that had experienced loss of control over food delivery were impaired in their acquisition of a shuttle-escape response, relative to the response-contingent and the continuous-reinforcement control rats (in Experiments 1 and 2) and to the lack-of-control and home cage control rats (in Experiment 2). Rats that had received noncontingent food delivery without a prior history of control over food exhibited poorer performance than did the home cage control rats. Moreover, loss of control resulted in a larger interference effect than did lack of control, supporting the view that the learning of response-outcome noncontingency is the main determinant of the interference effect.

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Mental health among children relocating to temporary housing following the Fukushima nuclear accidentMasae Miura (Tokyo Kasei University) , Ayaka Miura (Yoyogi Hospital) , and Takahiro Okayasu (Meiji University)This study compared the psychological health of children who moved to temporary housing following the Fukushima nuclear accident with those who stayed in their own houses. The questionnaire was designed to measure stress responses, positive events in daily life, positive affect, and social support. It was completed by 28 children who had evacuated from the affected area and lived in temporary housing; 106 children living in their own houses in Fukushima Prefecture; and 321 children living in a nonaffected area in Saitama Prefecture. The results showed that children who moved to temporary housing experienced more frequent bullying and play-related stressors, had less positive experiences related to events with family members and during lessons, and received less support from their teachers and friends than other children. However, the differences in living environments did not affect their stress responses or positive affect. These findings suggest the importance of providing temporary housing environments that enable children to experience close interactions with friends and adequate support from teachers.