Gomes, S. M. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2025

Reasons and Challenges of Adopting Flexitarian Diet: A Mixed-Methods Approach Using Natural Language Processing

In this study, we analyzed data from a large sample (n = 778) of individuals who identified as flexitarians, using Brazil as a case study. We applied Natural Language Processing (NLP) to characterize the reasons why individuals self-identify as flexitarians. We explored how these self-perceptions contribute to the construction of a flexitarian identity and identified the challenges this group faces in adopting a flexitarian diet. Our results indicate that there is no homogeneous flexitarian identity, but rather a diversity of categories, organized into five distinct clusters: ethical flexitarians (those who express greater concern for the environment and animals), flexible vegetarians (those who often express the desire to become vegetarian but still consume meat), meat lovers (those who enjoy meat but do not feel compelled to consume it), moderate consumers (those who refrain from meat on certain days of the week), and meat reducers (those who actively reduce their meat consumption). The latter three groups are more similar, as they tend to reduce their meat intake due to the belief that meat is not essential in their diet, although they still enjoy its taste. Additionally, we found that the main challenge faced by our participants is directly related to the social environment, specifically the difficulty in finding alternatives to meat, which makes the love for meats taste and meat-centric eating habits secondary challenges.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2020

Norepinephrine as a Memory Reset Signal: Switching the System from Retrieval to Encoding During a Spatial Memory Task can be Both Adaptive and Maladaptive

Contextual information is represented in the hippocampus (HPC) partially through the recruitment of distinct neuronal ensembles. It is believed that reactivation of these ensembles underlies memory retrieval processes. Recently, we showed that norepinephrine (NE) input from phasic locus coeruleus (LC) activation induces hippocampal plasticity resulting in the recruitment of new neurons and a disengagement from previously established representations. We hypothesize that NE may provide a neuromodulatory, mnemonic switch signaling the HPC to move from a state of retrieval to encoding in the presence of novelty, and therefore, plays a role in memory updating. Here, we tested whether bilateral dorsal dentate gyrus (DG) infusions of the {beta}-adrenergic receptor (BAR) agonist isoproterenol (ISO), administered prior to encoding or retrieval, would impair spatial working and reference memory by reverting the system to encoding (thereby recruiting new neurons) potentially interfering with retrieval of the previously established spatial ensemble. We also investigated whether dDG infusions of ISO could promote cognitive flexibility by switching the system to encoding when it is adaptive (i.e. when new information is presented e.g. reversal learning). We found that intra-dDG infusions of ISO given prior to retrieval caused deficits in working and reference memory which was blocked by pre-treatment with the BAR-antagonist, propranolol (PRO). In contrast, ISO administered prior to reversal learning led to improved performance. These data support our hypothesis that NE serves as a novelty signal to update HPC contextual representations via BAR activation-facilitated recruitment of new neurons. This can be both maladaptive and adaptive depending on the situation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe current work highlights the involvement of hippocampal BARs in determining the flexibility of contextual representations to promote new learning in a way that supports adaptive behavior. This work builds upon previous work showing that noradrenergic input to the hippocampus is involved in recruiting new neurons resulting in new contextual representations and may be involved in the underlying neural mechanisms that support memory updating. These data suggest targets for anxiety disorders such as PTSD, which are characterized by noradrenergic dysregulation, and may also involve impairments in memory updating mechanisms where the incorporation of new information is not effectively encoded. The further understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms involved in updating memories may provide insight into novel treatment strategies.

animal behavior and cognition↗