Mental imagery rotation and graph comprehension of IS-LM macroeconomic models.

The aim of this study was to determine if the ability to rotate mental imagery influenced the comprehension of graphs in economics. A sample of 140 Business Administration undergraduates familiar with economic analysis using graphs were administered the Measure of the Ability to Rotate Mental Images (MARMI). Moreover, participants completed an ad hoc graph comprehension test consisting of six exercises of increasing difficulty with graphs developing the IS-LM model described in conventional macroeconomic textbooks. Both the ability to rotate mental imagery and graph complexity (the number of quadrants in each graph) were found to significantly influence the number of correct graph comprehension responses.

[Group intervention from a sensorimotor approach to reduce the intensity of chronic pain]. / Intervención grupal desde un enfoque sensoriomotriz para reducir la intensidad del dolor crónico.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness, on people with chronic pain, of an intervention (Time In) designed to reduce pain and to improve psychological symptoms. DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial with a control group, taking three measurements over three months. SETTING: Granada, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 40 women aged 18 or older with a history (over 6 months) of chronic pain. The recruitment was in the Fibromyalgia Association of Granada, Spain (AGRAFIM). INTERVENTIONS: Time In is a sensorimotor intervention that combines biomechanical physiotherapeutic procedures and psychological strategies. A weekly session of 3h was planned and the total of the program was developed during five weeks. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Independent variables: sociodemographic information, clinical history and Time In intervention. Dependent variables: Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-S), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), Symptom Check List-90-R (SCL-90-R) and Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation (CORE-OM). RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between control group and intervention group of most of the scales used in postintervention and follow up measurements. Thus, significantly lower mean scores were obtained in intensity, interference and areas of pain, quality of life, psychological symptoms and behavioural change. Similar results were observed on d Cohen scores. They were 'very important' on intensity of pain (d=-1.01, d=-0.97) and interference of pain (d=-0.85, d=-0.74), with an improvement percentage from 21% to 30%. CONCLUSIONS: Time In intervention reduces pain and improves psychological symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia; this results in a better quality of life.

Versión española del cuestionario-revisado de imagen del movimiento (MIQ-R): validación y propiedades psicométricas / Spanish version of the revised movement image questionnaire (MIQ-R): psychometric properties and validation

En esta investigación deseábamos saber los factores que tenía la versión española del Cuestionario-Revisado de Imagen del Movimiento (MIQ-R), y cómo se distribuían los ítems. También deseábamos conocer la consistencia interna y cómo correlacionaba con otras medidas de habilidad de imagen. Para ello aplicamos la versión española del MIQ-R a una muestra de 201 estudiantes universitarios, y encontramos, mediante análisis factorial, que el cuestionario consta de dos factores, que juntos explican el 66.11% de la varianza total. Estos dos factores corresponden a la subescala visual y a la subescala cinestésica. La consistencia del test fue satisfactoria, tanto la consistencia de la puntuación total del test, como la de cada una de las dos subescalas. El MIQ-R correlacionó -.34 con el Cuestionario de Viveza de Imagen del Movimiento (VMIQ), y -.26 con el Cuestionario de Viveza de Imagen Visual (VVIQ). La versión española del MIQ-R se considera una buena medida de imagen del movimiento (AU)

The purpose of this study was twofold: first to evaluate the factors and distribution of the items in the Spanish version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised (MIQ-R) and second, to determine internal consistency and its correlation with other measures of imagery ability. A total of 201 undergraduate students were given the Spanish version of the MIQ-R and the factorial analysis revealed that the questionnaire consisted of two factors corresponding to the visual and kinaesthetic subscales, which together explained 66.11% of the total variance. Test consistency was satisfactory in terms of the total test score and both subscales. The MIQ-R had a correlation of -.34 with the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ), and -.26 with the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ). The Spanish version of the MIQ-R is a good instrument for measuring movement imagery (AU)

Imagery factors in the Spanish version of the Verbalizer-Visualizer Questionnaire.

The factor structure and internal consistency reliability of the Spanish version of the Verbalizer-Visualizer Questionnaire was analyzed. 969 male and female high school students completed the questionnaire and the Gordon Test of Visual Imagery Control. Factor analysis indicated that the questionnaire comprises five factors: "interest in words," "dream vividness and frequency," "verbal fluency," "task performance difficulty," and "ways of thinking and acting." The internal consistency was very low (Cronbach alpha = .30). The correlation between scores and those on the Gordon test was statistically significant because N was large but very weak (r =.08, p<.05). The questionnaire measured five distinct factors, and this should be taken into account when using the Spanish version rather than a coherent dimension.

Presentation of keywords by means of interactive drawings.

One of the main outstanding problems in keyword mnemotechnics is whether this technique is more effective when the subjects generate their own keywords, or when the keywords are supplied by the experimenter. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages. An alternative method has recently been suggested, in which the keywords are generated by the subjects' peers. In the present study we aimed to investigate whether immediate or delayed recall are affected by keyword generation method (experimenter or peer generation). We also aimed to determine whether the method of keyword generation affects imaging capacity as evaluated by questionnaires or spatial tests. A total of 377 secondary-school students were selected and divided into four groups. All subjects were presented with 30 Latin words. Additionally, the subjects in Group 1 were presented with bizarre images, while the subjects of Group 2 were presented with normal images, in both cases representing the keywords selected by peers as interacting with the Latin words. The subjects in Groups 3 and 4 were likewise presented with normal or bizarre images, respectively, but representing the keywords selected by the experimenters. The subjects' imaging capacity was evaluated by means of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) and the Spatial Test of Primary Mental Abilities (ST-PMA). The results were analysed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with three factors (ST-PMA imaging capacity, 2 levels; VVIQ imaging capacity, 2 levels; and mnemotechnic method, 4 levels) and dependent variables immediate recall and delayed recall. All three factors influenced recall. Subsequent univariate analyses of variance indicated that subjects with high ST-PMA score and subjects with high VVIQ score showed better immediate and delayed recall than subjects with low ST-PMA score and subjects with low VVIQ score. Mnemotechnic method (i.e. whether keywords are generated by the experimenter or by peers) significantly affected immediate recall but not delayed recall.

Sesquiterpenes from Jasonia glutinosa: in vitro anti-inflammatory activity.

Four sesquiterpenes isolated from Jasonia glutinosa D.C. (Asteraceae), namely lucinone, glutinone, 5-epi-kutdtriol and kutdtriol, have been evaluated for their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in cellular systems generating cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) metabolites. None of the compounds assayed had a significant effect on leukotriene C4 (LTC4)-release from calcium ionophore-stimulated mouse peritoneal cells. However, the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by mouse peritoneal cells stimulated with calcium ionophore was inhibited by these compounds, although with less potency than the reference drug indomethacin (IC50=0.24 microM). The IC50 values of the active compounds were: lucinone 42.69 microM, glutinone 3.61 microM, 5-epi-kutdtriol 1.28 microM and kutdtriol 39 microM. Of the tested compounds, only glutinone (IC50=24 microM) showed a significant effect on thromboxane B2 (TXB2)-release induced by calcium ionophore in human platelets, although with less potency than the reference drug ibuprofen (IC50=1.27 microM).

Interest value, meaningfulness, and familiarity of words: relations with other word properties.

Evaluation of different properties of words and the relations among them is of value for understanding languages and as a basis for research. In the present study we investigated relations among interest value, familiarity, and meaningfulness of words. We also investigated the relations of these properties with imagery, concreteness, emotionality, frequency, date of entry into the language, word length, and amplitude of skin conductance response. A total of 85 university students received a list of 25 word pairs, each pair comprised of a concrete and an abstract noun with related meanings, e.g., "friend" and "friendship," and rated the interest value, familiarity, and meaningfulness of each word. Familiarity correlated significantly with meaningfulness and interest value.