Habilitación de funciones frontales básicas en cardiópatas congénitos a través de LEGO® Education / Basic frontal functions qualification in congenital heart disease with LEGO® Education

Las cardiopatías congénitas se consideran una de las anomalías que alteran la irrigación y el intercambio de oxigenación adecuado a las principales venas y arterias. Esto puede generar consecuencias en el desarrollo neurológico que se puede traducir en retraso psicomotor, déficits de aprendizaje, dificultades académicas y problemas de integración social. Para mejorar los trastornos cognitivos, se propone la habilitación cognitiva basada en los principios de mecánica y robótica de LEGO® Education. El objetivo de este estudio fue medir el efecto de un programa de intervención, basado en el uso de ensamblado y programación robótica con LEGO® Education, sobre las funciones frontales básicas como primera aproximación a un modelo propuesto en pacientes cardiópatas congénitos que han sido sometidos a cirugía cardiovascular. Se trató de un estudio de serie de casos, en el que finalizaron el tratamiento una niña y dos niños con cardiopatías congénitas con RACHS 2 y 3. Se aplicaron sub-escalas BANFE-2 y el cuestionario neuropsicológico de daño frontal antes y después del tratamiento; así como una escala para medir el nivel de ejecución por intervención, durante las ocho sesiones. Los resultados muestran en la escala BANFE2, cambios en las medias de las funciones frontales básicas, de daño leve-moderado y normal a normal alto, principalmente en memoria de trabajo y fluidez verbal. En esta primera aproximación, el método LEGO® Education mostró ser una buena herramienta para la habilitación neuropsicológica de estos pacientes.

Congenital heart diseases are considered to be an anomaly which alter the irrigation and the adequate exchange of oxygenation to the main veins and arteries. They can have neurodevelopmental consequences that could translate into psychomotor retardation, learning deficits, academic difficulties, and social integration problems. Cognitive empowerment based on the mechanics and robotics principles of LEGO® Education is proposed to improve cognitive disorders. In this study, the objective was to measure the effect of an intervention program, based on the use of assembly and robotic programming with LEGO® Education, upon basic frontal functions as a first approach to a proposed model in congenital heart disease patients who have undergone cardiovascular surgery. This was a case-series study, in which a girl and two boys with congenital heart disease with RACHS 2 and 3, completed the treatment. BANFE-2 subscales and the neuropsychological questionnaire of frontal damage were applied before and after the treatment; as well as a scale to measure the level of performance per intervention, through all the eight sessions. The BANFE-2 scale showed changes in the means of frontal functions, from mild-moderate damage and normal to high normal, mainly in working memory and verbal fluency. In this first approach, LEGO® Education method proved to be a useful tool for the neuropsychological empowerment of these patients.

Influencia de la actividad deportiva en el funcionamiento ejecutivo de los lóbulos frontales / Influence of sports activity on executive functioning of the frontal lobes

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la influencia de la práctica deportiva sobre el desempeño de las funciones ejecutivas y, a su vez, indagar si la ejecución individual y/o grupal del deporte establece diferencias en el desarrollo de estas habilidades cognitivas y las posibles relaciones asociadas a los tiempos de entrenamiento. Para esto, se estableció una metodología cuantitativa, de diseño comparativo-correlacional. La muestra estuvo conformada por 100 participantes entre 18 y 25 años de edad de ambos géneros, distribuidos en tres grupos, uno de deportes de ejecución individual, otro de deportistas de actividad grupal y un grupo control con personas sin participación en actividades deportivas. Se encontraron, por ejemplo, mayores desempeños en funciones de planeación, memoria de trabajo, control inhibitorio y subtipos de atención por parte de quienes practicaban algún tipo de deporte, independiente de la modalidad de ejecución; pese a que, para algunas funciones cognitivas el participar de un deporte grupal generaba mayores puntuaciones en las tareas propuestas y, en otras, la ventaja la presentaron los integrantes de deportes individuales. Asimismo, se pudo establecer que existe una relación entre el tiempo semanal de entrenamiento y el funcionamiento de la actividad ejecutiva; esto, permitió corroborar la influencia de la actividad deportiva sobre el funcionamiento cognitivo subyacente en los lóbulos frontales.

This research aimed to determine the influence of sports practice on the performance of executive functions and, in turn, to inquire whether the individual and/or group performance of sports establishes differences in the development of these cognitive skills and the possible associated relationships to training times. To do this, a quantitative, comparative-correlational design methodology was established. The sample consisted of 100 participants between 18 and 25 years of age of both genders, divided into three groups, one for individual sports, another for athletes with group activity, and a control group with people without participation in sports activities. For example, greater performance was found in planning functions, working memory, inhibitory control and attention subtypes by those who practiced some type of sport, independent of the execution modality; Despite the fact that, for some cognitive functions, participating in a group sport generated higher scores in the proposed tasks and, in others, the advantage was presented by the members of individual sports. Likewise, it was established that there is a relationship between weekly training time and the performance of executive activity; This allowed to corroborate the influence of sports activity on underlying cognitive functioning on the frontal lobes.

A continuum of invariant sensory and behavioral-context perceptual coding in secondary somatosensory cortex.

A crucial role of cortical networks is the conversion of sensory inputs into perception. In the cortical somatosensory network, neurons of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) show invariant sensory responses, while frontal lobe neuronal activity correlates with the animal's perceptual behavior. Here, we report that in the secondary somatosensory cortex (S2), neurons with invariant sensory responses coexist with neurons whose responses correlate with perceptual behavior. Importantly, the vast majority of the neurons fall along a continuum of combined sensory and categorical dynamics. Furthermore, during a non-demanding control task, the sensory responses remain unaltered while the sensory information exhibits an increase. However, perceptual responses and the associated categorical information decrease, implicating a task context-dependent processing mechanism. Conclusively, S2 neurons exhibit intriguing dynamics that are intermediate between those of S1 and frontal lobe. Our results contribute relevant evidence about the role that S2 plays in the conversion of touch into perception.

Stimulatory effects of (-)-epicatechin and its enantiomer (+)-epicatechin on mouse frontal cortex neurogenesis markers and short-term memory: proof of concept.

Consumption of (-)-epicatechin (Epi), a cacao flavanol improves cognition. The aim was to compare the effects of (-)-Epi or its stereoisomer (+)-Epi on mouse frontal cortex-dependent short-term working memory and modulators of neurogenesis. Three-month-old male mice (n = 7 per group) were provided by gavage either water (vehicle; Veh), (-)-Epi, at 1 mg kg-1 or (+)-Epi at 0.1 mg per kg of body weight for 15 days. After treatment, spontaneous alternation was evaluated by Y-maze. Brain frontal cortex was isolated for nitrate/nitrite measurements, Western blotting for nerve growth factor (NGF), microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2), endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and nNOS) and immunohistochemistry for neuronal specific protein (NeuN), doublecortin (DCX), capillary (CD31) and neurofilaments (NF200). Results demonstrate the stimulatory capacity of (-)-Epi and (+)-Epi on markers of neuronal proliferation as per increases in immunoreactive cells for NeuN (74 and 120% respectively), DCX (70 and 124%) as well as in NGF (34.4, 63.6%) and MAP2 (41.8, 63.8%). Capillary density yielded significant increases with (-)-Epi (∼80%) vs. (+)-Epi (∼160%). CD31 protein levels increased with (-)-Epi (∼70%) and (+)-Epi (∼140%). Effects correlated with nitrate/nitrite stimulation by (-)-Epi and (+)-Epi (110.2, 246.5%) and enhanced eNOS phosphorylation (Ser1177) with (-)-Epi and (+)-Epi (21.4, 41.2%) while nNOS phosphorylation only increased with (+)-Epi (18%). Neurofilament staining was increased in (-)-Epi by 135.6 and 84% with (+)-Epi. NF200 increased with (-)-Epi (116%) vs. (+)-Epi (84.5%). Frontal cortex-dependent short-term spatial working improved with (-)-Epi and (+)-Epi (15, 13%). In conclusion, results suggest that both enantiomers, but more effectively (+)-Epi, upregulate neurogenesis markers likely through stimulation of capillary formation and NO triggering, improvements in memory.

The role of frontal and parietal cortex in the performance of gifted and average adolescents in a mental rotation task.

Visual-spatial abilities are usually neglected in academic settings, even though several studies have shown that their predictive power in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics domains exceeds that of math and verbal ability. This neglect means that many spatially talented youths are not identified and nurtured, at a great cost to society. In the present work, we aim to identify behavioral and electrophysiological markers associated with visual spatial-ability in intellectually gifted adolescents (N = 15) compared to age-matched controls (N = 15). The participants performed a classic three-dimensional mental rotation task developed by Shepard and Metzler (1971) [33] while event-related potentials were measured in both frontal and parietal regions of interest. While response time was similar in the two groups, gifted subjects performed the test with greater accuracy. There was no indication of interhemispheric asymmetry of ERPs over parietal regions in both groups, although interhemispheric differences were observed in the frontal lobes. Moreover, intelligence quotient and working memory measures predicted variance in ERP's amplitude in the right parietal and frontal hemispheres. We conclude that while gifted adolescents do not display a different pattern of electroencephalographic activity over the parietal cortex while performing the mental rotation task, their performance is correlated with the amplitude of ERPs in the frontal cortex during the execution of this task.

Electrophysiological indexes of ToM and non-ToM humor in healthy adults.

The cognitive processes involved in humor comprehension were analyzed by directly comparing the time course of brain activity associated with the perception of slapstick humor and that associated with the comprehension of humor requiring theory of mind (ToM). Four different comic strips (strips containing humorous scenes that required ToM, non-ToM humorous strips, non-humorous semantically coherent strips and non-humorous semantically incoherent strips) were presented to participants, while their EEG response was recorded. Results showed that both of the humorous comic strips and the semantically incongruent strip elicited an N400 effect, suggesting similar cognitive mechanisms underlying the processing of incongruent and humorous comic strips. The results also showed that the humorous ToM strips elicited a frontal late positive (LP) response, possibly reflecting the active deployment of ToM abilities such as perspective-taking and empathy that allow for the resolution and interpretation of apparently incongruent situations. In addition, the LP response was positively correlated with ratings of perceived amusement as well as individual empathy scores, suggesting that the increased LP response to ToM humorous strips reflects the combined activation of neural mechanisms involved in the experience of amusement and ToM abilities. Overall, humor comprehension appears to demand distinct cognitive steps such as the detection of incongruent semantic components, the construction of semantic coherence, and the appreciation of humoristic elements such as maladaptive emotional reactions. Our results show that the deployment of these distinct cognitive steps is at least partially dependent on individual empathic abilities.

Association between increased theta cordance and early response to ECT in late-life depression.

OBJECTIVES: More than half of patients with major depression who do not respond to initial antidepressants become treatment resistant (TRD), and while electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is effective, it involves anesthesia and other medical risks that are of concern in geriatric patients. Past studies have suggested that theta cordance (TC), a correlate of cerebral metabolism measured by electroencephalography, could guide treatment decisions related to patient selection and engagement of the therapeutic target. METHODS/DESIGN: Eight patients with late-life treatment resistant depression (LL-TRD) underwent magnetoencephalography (MEG) at baseline and following seven sessions of ECT. We tested whether the mean and regional frontal cortex TC were able to differentiate early responders from nonresponders. RESULTS: Five patients whose depression severity decreased by >30% after seven sessions were considered early responders. We found no baseline differences in mean frontal TC between early responders compared with nonresponders, but early responders exhibited a significant increase in TC following ECT. Further, we found that compared with nonresponders, early responders exhibited a greater change in TC specifically within the right prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the hypothesis that increases in frontal TC are associated with antidepressant response. We expand on previous findings by showing that this change is specific to the right prefrontal cortex. Validation of this neural marker could contribute to improved ECT outcomes, by informing early clinical decisions about the acute efficacy of this treatment.

Differential involvement of left and right frontoparietal areas in visuospatial planning: An rTMS study.

The planning process consists of pre-determining an ordered series of actions to accomplish a goal. Previous research showed that the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) is likely to create the strategy for a plan, while the right PFC could be relevant for its update. These roles for the two PFCs need to be ascertained for visuospatial planning, whether communalities or differences exist with other planning tasks. Moreover, the contribution of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) to planning still lacks evidence. Online repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (1 Hz) was used, and 32 participants were involved in the visuospatial planning task in a within-subject design to inhibit either the frontal or the parietal cortex of either the left or the right hemisphere. The goal consisted of evaluating the contribution of these cortical regions, also controlling for gender, in a computerized version of the travelling salesman problem (TSP), the "Maps" task. The results showed that all the stimulated sites produced significant differences in their involvement, reflected in several parameters (such as initial planning and execution times, strategies and heuristics used), with respect to the control group. The roles for the two PFCs were generally confirmed in all measures except path length, while the contribution of the PPC emerged throughout the measures related to the ongoing execution. We concluded that the results obtained with the TSP paradigm were consistent with results obtained using other tasks used to study the planning process (such as the Tower of London) for the evaluation of PFC contribution. In addition, we showed that the contribution of the PPC to the planning process has probably been underestimated.

Enhanced response inhibition and reduced midfrontal theta activity in experienced Vipassana meditators.

Response inhibition - the ability to suppress inappropriate thoughts and actions - is a fundamental aspect of cognitive control. Recent research suggests that mental training by meditation may improve cognitive control. Yet, it is still unclear if and how, at the neural level, long-term meditation practice may affect (emotional) response inhibition. The present study aimed to address this outstanding question, and used an emotional Go/Nogo task and electroencephalography (EEG) to examine possible differences in behavioral and electrophysiological indices of response inhibition between Vipassana meditators and an experience-matched active control group (athletes). Behaviorally, meditators made significantly less errors than controls on the emotional Go/Nogo task, independent of the emotional context, while being equally fast. This improvement in response inhibition at the behavioral level was accompanied by a decrease in midfrontal theta activity in Nogo vs. Go trials in the meditators compared to controls. Yet, no changes in ERP indices of response inhibition, as indexed by the amplitude of the N2 and P3 components, were observed. Finally, the meditators subjectively evaluated the emotional pictures lower in valence and arousal. Collectively, these results suggest that meditation may improve response inhibition and control over emotional reactivity.

Funciones ejecutivas y ajuste clínico en adolescentes colombianos policonsumidores / Executive functions and clinical adjustment in Colombian adolescents polydrug

Resumen El estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el funcionamiento ejecutivo y el ajuste clínico en una muestra de adolescentes colombianos policonsumidores. Se efectuó un estudio ex post facto con 204 participantes entre 12 y 17 años (M = 14,50, DT = 1,71). Se aplicó la Batería Neuropsicológica de Funciones Ejecutivas y Lóbulos Frontales BANFE-2 y para la evaluación clínica se utilizó la Escala de Autoestima de Rosenberg, Cuestionario de Afrontamiento COPE, Escala de Impulsividad de Dickman y Cuestionario de 90 Síntomas SCL-90-R. Se identificó un rendimiento significativamente inferior del grupo policonsumidor en las funciones ejecutivas, bajos niveles de autoestima, altos niveles de impulsividad disfuncional y de diversidad psicopatológica, así como estilo de afrontamiento a través del consumo de sustancias. Así mismo, se detectó un efecto predictor de la interacción edad x tiempo de consumo en el funcionamiento ejecutivo, observándose un menor rendimiento de los policonsumidores más jóvenes a medida que se incrementaba el tiempo de consumo.

Abstract The research aim was to analyze the executive functioning and the clinical adjustment in a sample of Colombian teen polydrug users. An ex post facto study was carried out with 204 participants, 12-17 years old (M= 14,50, SD = 1,71). The neuropsychological test BANFE-2 was applied for analyzing frontal lobes and executive functioning and the Rosenberg self esteem scale, a COPE questionnaire, the Dickman impulsivity scale and the SCL-90-R questionnaire were used for clinical adjustment respectively. A lower executive functioning throughput were observed in polydrug users. Low self-esteem, high dysfunctional impulsivity, high diverse psychopathologies and coping strategies for drug use were also observed. A predictor effect between age and consumption time on the executive functioning were also determined. A lower throughput in younger polydrug users increase through consumption time.

Acute effect of Ethanol and Taurine on frontal cortex absolute beta power before and after exercise.

Ethanol (ET) is a substance that modulates the Central Nervous System (CNS). Frequently, ET intake occurs combined with energy drinks, which contain taurine (TA), an important amino acid found in the body (i.e brain and muscles). Although TA administration has been used in the improvement of physical performance, the impact of TA, ET and exercise remains unknown. This study aimed to analyze the acute effect of 6g of Taurine (TA), 0.6 mL∙kg-1 of Ethanol (ET), and Taurine combined with Ethanol (TA+ET) ingestion on the electrocortical activity before and after a moderate intensity exercise in 9 subjects, 5 women (counterbalanced experimental design). In each of the 4 treatments (Placebo-PL, TA, ET and TA+ET), electroencephalography (EEG) tests were conducted in order to analyze changes in absolute beta power (ABP) in the frontal lobe in 3 moments: baseline (before ingestion), peak (before exercise) and post-exercise. In the PL treatment, the frontal areas showed decrease in ABP after exercise. However, in the ET+TA treatment, ABP values were greater after exercise, except for Fp1. The ET treatment had no effect on the Superior Frontal Gyrus area (F3, Fz and F4) and ABP decreased after exercise in Fp1 and Fp2. In the TA treatment, ABP increased after exercise, while it decreased at the peak moment in most of the frontal regions, except for Fp1, F3 and Fz. We concluded that after a moderate intensity exercise, a decrease in cortical activity occurs in placebo treatment. Moreover, we found a inhibitory effect of TA on cortical activity before exercise and a increased in cortical activity after exercise. A small ET dose is not enough to alter ABP in all regions of the frontal cortex and, in combination with TA, it showed an increase in the frontal cortex activity at the post-exercise moment.

Frontal theta accounts for individual differences in the cost of conflict on decision making.

Cognitive conflict is often experienced as a difficult, frustrating, and aversive state. Recent studies have indicated that conflict acts as an implicit cost during learning, valuation, and the instantiation of cognitive control. Here we investigated if an implicit manipulation of conflict also influences explicit decision making to risk. Participants were required to perform a Balloon Analogue Risk Task wherein the virtual balloon was inflated by performing a flankers task. By varying the percent of incongruent flanker trials between balloons, we hypothesized that participants would pump the balloon fewer times in conditions of higher conflict and that frontal midline theta would account for significant variance in this relationship. Across two studies, we demonstrate that conflict did not elicit reliable behavioral changes in this task across participants. However, individual differences in frontal theta power accounted for significant variance by predicting diminished balloon pumps. Thus, while conflict costs may act as investments to some individuals (invigorating behavior), it is aversive to others (diminishing behavior), and frontal midline theta power accounts for these varying behavioral tendencies between individuals. These findings demonstrate how frontal midline theta is not only a candidate mechanism for implementing cognitive control, but it is sensitive to the inherent costs therein.

Alpha power oscillation in the frontal cortex under Bromazepam and Modafinil effects / Oscilações da potência alfa no córtex frontal sob influência do Bromazepam e Modafinil

ABSTRACTObjective Our aim was to investigate and compare the neuromodulatory effects of bromazepam (6 mg) and modafinil (200 mg) during a sensorimotor task analyzing the changes produced in the absolute alpha power.Method The sample was composed of 15 healthy individuals exposed to three experimental conditions: placebo, modafinil and bromazepam. EEG data were recorded before, during and after the execution of the task. A three-way ANOVA was applied, in order to compare the absolute alpha power among the factors: Group (control, bromazepam and modafinil) Condition (Pre and Post-drug ingestion) and Moment (pre and post-stimulus).Results Interaction was found between the group and condition factors for Fp1, F4 and F3. We observed a main effect of moment and condition for the Fp2, F8 and Fz electrodes.Conclusion We concluded that drugs may interfere in sensorimotor processes, such as in the performance of tasks carried out in an unpredictable scenario.

RESUMOObjetivo Investigar e comparar os efeitos neuromoduladores do bromazepam (6mg) e modafinil (200mg), durante a prática de uma tarefa sensoriomotora, analisando as modificações produzidas na potência absoluta de alfa.Método A amostra foi composta por 15 indivíduos saudáveis, expostos a três condições experimentais: Placebo, modafinil e bromazepam. Dados eletroencefalográficos foram registrados antes, durante e após a execução da tarefa motora. Um ANOVA three-way foi aplicado para comparar a potência absoluta de alfa nos fatores Grupo (controle, bromazepam e modafinil), Condição (Pré e Pós ingestão da droga) e Momento (Pré e Pós estimulo).Resultados Verificou-se interação entre os fatores grupo e condição para os eletrodos Fp1, F4 e F3. Observamos um efeito principal para momento e condição nos eletrodos Fp2, F8 e Fz.Conclusão Concluímos que as drogas, podem interferir em processos sensoriomotores, como no desempenho de tarefas executadas em um cenário imprevisível.

Alpha power oscillation in the frontal cortex under Bromazepam and Modafinil effects.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate and compare the neuromodulatory effects of bromazepam (6 mg) and modafinil (200 mg) during a sensorimotor task analyzing the changes produced in the absolute alpha power. METHOD: The sample was composed of 15 healthy individuals exposed to three experimental conditions: placebo, modafinil and bromazepam. EEG data were recorded before, during and after the execution of the task. A three-way ANOVA was applied, in order to compare the absolute alpha power among the factors: Group (control, bromazepam and modafinil) Condition (Pre and Post-drug ingestion) and Moment (pre and post-stimulus). RESULTS: Interaction was found between the group and condition factors for Fp1, F4 and F3. We observed a main effect of moment and condition for the Fp2, F8 and Fz electrodes. CONCLUSION: We concluded that drugs may interfere in sensorimotor processes, such as in the performance of tasks carried out in an unpredictable scenario.

The effects of bromazepam over the central and frontal areas during a motor task: an EEG study.

The present study investigates the influence of bromazepam while executing a motor task. Specifically, we intend to analyze the changes in alpha absolute power under two experimental conditions, bromazepam and placebo. We also included analyses of theta and beta frequencies. We collected electroencephalographic data before, during, and after motor task execution. We used a Two Way ANOVA to investigate the condition (PL × Br6 mg) and moment (pre and post) variables for the following electrodes: Fp1, Fp2, F7, F3, Fz, F4, F8, C3, CZ and C4. We found a main effect for condition on the electrodes FP1, F7, F3, Fz, F4, C3 and CZ, for alpha and beta bands. For beta band we also found a main effect for condition on the electrodes Fp2, F8 and C4; for theta band we identified a main effect for condition on C3, Cz and C4 electrodes. This finding suggests that the motor task did not have any influence on the electrocortical activity in alpha, and that the existing modifications were a consequence due merely to the drug use. Despite its anxiolytic and sedative action, bromazepam did not show any significant changes when the individuals executed a finger extension motor task.

The effects of bromazepam over the central and frontal areas during a motor task: an EEG study / Os efeitos do bromazepam nas áreas corticais central e frontal durante execução de uma tarefa motora: um estudo de EEG

The present study investigates the influence of bromazepam while executing a motor task. Specifically, we intend to analyze the changes in alpha absolute power under two experimental conditions, bromazepam and placebo. We also included analyses of theta and beta frequencies. We collected electroencephalographic data before, during, and after motor task execution. We used a Two Way ANOVA to investigate the condition (PL × Br6 mg) and moment (pre and post) variables for the following electrodes: Fp1, Fp2, F7, F3, Fz, F4, F8, C3, CZ and C4. We found a main effect for condition on the electrodes FP1, F7, F3, Fz, F4, C3 and CZ, for alpha and beta bands. For beta band we also found a main effect for condition on the electrodes Fp2, F8 and C4; for theta band we identified a main effect for condition on C3, Cz and C4 electrodes. This finding suggests that the motor task did not have any influence on the electrocortical activity in alpha, and that the existing modifications were a consequence due merely to the drug use. Despite its anxiolytic and sedative action, bromazepam did not show any significant changes when the individuals executed a finger extension motor task.

O presente estudo investiga a influência do bromazepam durante a execução de uma tarefa motora. Especificamente, pretende-se analisar as mudanças na potência absoluta de alfa sob duas condições experimentais, bromazepam e placebo. Nós também incluímos as analises das frequências teta e beta. Foram coletados dados eletroencefalográficos antes, durante e depois da execução da tarefa motora. Usamos uma Anova de 2 fatores para investigar a condição (PL × Br6 mg) e variáveis no momento (pré e pós) para os seguintes eletrodos: Fp1, Fp2, F7, F3, Fz, F4, F8, C3, C4 e CZ. Encontramos um efeito principal para a condição e eletrodos FP1, F7, F3, Fz, F4, C3 e CZ para alfa e beta. Para beta também foi encontrado um efeito principal para condição nos eletrodos Fp2, F8 e C4; para theta nós identificamos um efeito principal para condition em C3, Cz e C4. Este achado sugere que a tarefa motora não tem qualquer influência sobre a atividade eletrocortical alfa e que as modificações existentes foram uma consequência devido o uso de drogas. Apesar de sua ação ansiolítica e sedativa, o bromazepam não apresentou mudança significativa quando os indivíduos executaram uma tarefa motora.

Somatic and cognitive-affective depressive symptoms among patients with heart disease: differences by sex and age / Sintomas depressivos somáticos e cognitivo-afetivos entre pacientes com doença cardíaca: diferenças por sexo e idade / Síntomas depresivos somáticos y cognitivo-afectivos entre pacientes con enfermedad cardíaca: diferencias por sexo y edad

OBJECTIVE: this study investigated the association of somatic and cognitive-affective symptoms with sex and age, among patients hospitalized with heart disease. METHOD: this study was a secondary analysis of two previous observational studies totaling 531 patients with heart disease, hospitalized from 2005 to 2011 in two public hospitals in Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Somatic and cognitive-affective symptoms were assessed using the subscales of the Beck Depression Inventory - I (BDI-I). RESULTS: of 531 participants, 62.7% were male, with a mean age 57.3 years (SD= 13.0) for males and 56.2 years (SD= 12.1) for females. Analyses of variance showed an effect of sex (p<0.001 for somatic and p=0.005 for cognitive-affective symptoms), but no effect of age. Women presented with higher mean values than men in both BDI-I subscales: 7.1 (4.5) vs. 5.4 (4.3) for somatic, and 8.3 (7.9) vs. 6.7 (7.2) for cognitive-affective symptoms. There were no differences by age for somatic (p=0.84) or cognitive-affective symptoms (p=0.84). CONCLUSION: women hospitalized with heart disease had more somatic and cognitive-affective symptoms than men. We found no association of somatic and cognitive-affective symptoms with age. Future research for these patients could reveal whether these differences according to sex continue throughout the rehabilitation process. .

OBJETIVO: investigar a associação de sintomas somáticos e cognitivo-afetivos ao sexo e à idade de pacientes hospitalizados com doença cardíaca. MÉTODO: este estudo é resultado de uma análise secundária de dois estudos observacionais anteriores, totalizando 531 pacientes com doença cardíaca, internados de 2005 a 2011, em dois hospitais públicos em Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Os sintomas somáticos e cognitivo-afetivos foram avaliados utilizando-se as subescalas do Inventário de Depressão de Beck - I (IDB-I). RESULTADOS: dos 531 participantes, 62,7% são do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 57,3 anos (DP= 13,0) para os homens e 56,2 anos (DP = 12,1) para as mulheres. A análise da variância mostrou um efeito relacionado ao sexo do paciente (p<0,001 para sintomas somáticos e p=0,005 para os sintomas cognitivo-afetivos), mas nenhum efeito relacionado à idade. As mulheres apresentaram maiores escores do que os homens em ambas subescalas IDB-I: 7,1 (4,5) e 5,4 (4,3) para os sintomas somáticos, e 8,3 (7,9) e 6,7 (7,2) para os sintomas cognitivo-afetivos, respectivamente. Não houve diferenças referentes à idade para sintomas somáticos (p=0,84) ou sintomas cognitivo-afetivos (p=0,84). CONCLUSÃO: as mulheres internadas com doença cardíaca apresentaram mais sintomas somáticos e cognitivo-afetivos do que os homens. Não houve associação dos sintomas somáticos e cognitivo-afetivos com a idade. Pesquisas futuras desses pacientes poderiam revelar se essas diferenças de acordo com o sexo permanecem durante todo o processo de reabilitação. .

OBJETIVO: este estudio investigó la asociación de síntomas somáticos y cognitivo-afectivos con el sexo y la edad en pacientes hospitalizados con enfermedad cardíaca. MÉTODO: este estudio fue un análisis secundario de dos estudios observacionales anteriores, totalizando 531 pacientes con enfermedad cardíaca, internados de 2005 a 2011, en dos hospitales públicos en Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Los síntomas somáticos y cognitivo-afectivos fueron evaluados utilizándose las subescalas del Inventario Beck de Depresión - I (IBD-I). RESULTADOS: de los 531 participantes, 62,7% era del sexo masculino, con promedio de edad de 57,3 años (DE= 13,0) para los hombres y 56,2 años (DE = 12,1) para el sexo femenino. El análisis de variancia mostró un efecto del sexo (p<0,001 para síntomas somáticos y p=0,005 para los síntomas cognitivo-afectivos), pero ningún efecto de la edad. Las mujeres presentaron valores medios más altos que los hombres en ambas subescalas IBD-I: 7,1 (4,5) vs. 5.4 (4.3) para los síntomas somáticos, y 8,3 (7,9) vs. 6,7 (7,2) para los síntomas cognitivo-afectivos. No fueron encontradas diferencias por edad para síntomas somáticos (p=0,84) o síntomas cognitivo-afectivos (p=0,84). CONCLUSIÓN: las mujeres internadas con enfermedad cardíaca tenían más síntomas somáticos y cognitivo-afectivos que los hombres. No fue encontrada asociación de los síntomas somáticos y cognitivo-afectivos con la edad. Investigaciones futuras de esos pacientes podrían revelar si esas diferencias por sexo continúan durante todo el proceso de rehabilitación. .

Análisis neuroforense de la violencia: propuesta de revisión / Neuroforensic analysis of violence: proposed revision

Frente a la conducta homicida se presenta una diferenciación de posiciones biologicistas que relacionan la pauta homicida con factores filogenéticos y posibles daños en funciones neuropsicológicas complejas principalmente relacionadas con el control consciente de la conducta y la planeación. El planteamiento neuropsicológico relaciona el funcionamiento del cerebro con el comportamiento homicida principalmente con alteraciones en funciones ejecutivas y de planeación relacionadas con el lóbulo frontal, así como con alteraciones en el cuerpo calloso, la amígdala, el tálamo y alteraciones en la región medial de los lóbulos temporales...

Facing homicidal behavior differentiation biologicist positions relating to phylogenetic pattern homicidal factors and possible damage to complex neuropsychological functions related primarily conscious control of behavior and planning is presented. Neuropsychological approach to brain function related to homicidal behavior primarily with changes in executive and planning related to the frontal lobe functions, as well as alterations in the corpus callosum, amygdala, thalamus and alterations in the medial lobes temporary...

Cómo se representa la información fonológica en el cerebro: una explicación en términos de las redes relacionales / Representation of phonological information in the brain: a n explanation in terms of relational networks

Gracias a la afasiología y a la neuroanatomía sabemos que hay dos sistemas fonológicos: la percepción fonológica (en el área de Wernicke) y la producción fonológica (en el área de Broca). Por otro lado, gracias a la lingüística sabemos que el sistema léxico-gramatical conecta los significados con la fonología. A partir de todo esto se espera mostrar que las redes relacionales permiten representar cómo se conectan los dos sistemas fonológicos, el léxico-gramatical y el semántico.

Thanks to aphasiology and neuroanatomy, it is known that there are two phonological systems: phonological perception (in Wernicke´s area) and phonological production (in Broca’s area). On the other hand, thanks to Linguistics, we know that the lexicogrammatical system connects meanings with phonology. On this basis, this report aims at showing the way in which relational networks allow us to represent how the two phonological systems, lexico-grammatical and semantics, are connected.

Lower trait frontal theta activity in mindfulness meditators.

Acute and long-term effects of mindfulness meditation on theta-band activity are not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate frontal theta differences between long- and short-term mindfulness practitioners before, during, and after mindfulness meditation. Twenty participants were recruited, of which 10 were experienced Buddhist meditators. Despite an acute increase in the theta activity during meditation in both the groups, the meditators showed lower trait frontal theta activity. Therefore, we suggested that this finding is a neural correlate of the expert practitioners' ability to limit the processing of unnecessary information (e.g., discursive thought) and increase the awareness of the essential content of the present experience. In conclusion, acute changes in the theta band throughout meditation did not appear to be a specific correlate of mindfulness but were rather related to the concentration properties of the meditation. Notwithstanding, lower frontal theta activity appeared to be a trait of mindfulness practices.