Intellectual Development in Mexican Preterm Children at Risk of Perinatal Brain Damage: A Longitudinal Study.

Preterm birth accounts for about 10% of births worldwide. Studying risk factors for perinatal brain damage is essential, as findings suggest that almost 20% of disabilities are linked to risks in the early stages of development. This research aimed to study longitudinal changes in intelligence from 6 to 8 years of age in a sample of 39 preterm children with a history of risk of brain damage and a control group of 35 children born at term. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC-IV) was used to measure cognitive ability at six, seven, and eight years old. The results showed that the preterm group obtained significantly lower scores than the control group. The working memory indicator significantly affected the interaction between age and prematurity. We consider it crucial to expand the knowledge we have about the neurocognitive development of premature infants, both in specific cognitive domains and in age ranges, so that the information obtained can help predict the probability of presenting cognitive alterations from early stages. This, therefore, helps in implementing intervention strategies and programs based on scientific evidence, and their design is complemented by clinical experience and empirical and theoretical knowledge of the different professionals involved in infant cognitive intervention.

Attentional impairment in Parkinson's disease is modulated by side of onset: Neurophysiological evidence.

OBJECTIVE: Neurophysiological studies exploring involuntary attention have reported that electroencephalographic (EEG) measures can indicate impaired neural processing from initial stages of Parkinson's disease (PD). Since involuntary attention is regulated by right hemisphere networks and PD generally initiates its motor symptomatology unilaterally, whether involuntary attention is impaired depending on the onset side of PD remains unknown. METHODS: We compared the neurophysiological correlates of involuntary attention among a PD group with left-side onset (L-PD), a PD group with right-side onset (R-PD) symptomatology, and a healthy control group (HC). All participants performed an auditory involuntary attention task while a digital EEG was recorded. RESULTS: Our main finding was a reduction both in the P3a amplitude and evoked delta-theta phase alignment in the L-PD group compared to the HC. Further, there was a significant correlation between P3a amplitude and disease duration in the R-PD, but not in the L-PD group. Behaviorally, both clinical groups, and in particular L-PD, showed reduced orientation towards novel stimuli, and no reduction of distraction effects during the experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that involuntary attention is differentially impaired in patients with left side onset of symptoms. Involuntary attention impairment might be present from initial stages of left onset PD and become progressively compromised in patients with right onset PD. SIGNIFICANCE: The onset side of symptomatology should be considered for attentional impairment in PD.

Preservation of EEG spectral power features during simultaneous EEG-fMRI.

Introduction: Electroencephalographic (EEG) data quality is severely compromised when recorded inside the magnetic resonance (MR) environment. Here we characterized the impact of the ballistocardiographic (BCG) artifact on resting-state EEG spectral properties and compared the effectiveness of seven common BCG correction methods to preserve EEG spectral features. We also assessed if these methods retained posterior alpha power reactivity to an eyes closure-opening (EC-EO) task and compared the results from EEG-informed fMRI analysis using different BCG correction approaches. Method: Electroencephalographic data from 20 healthy young adults were recorded outside the MR environment and during simultaneous fMRI acquisition. The gradient artifact was effectively removed from EEG-fMRI acquisitions using Average Artifact Subtraction (AAS). The BCG artifact was corrected with seven methods: AAS, Optimal Basis Set (OBS), Independent Component Analysis (ICA), OBS followed by ICA, AAS followed by ICA, PROJIC-AAS and PROJIC-OBS. EEG signal preservation was assessed by comparing the spectral power of traditional frequency bands from the corrected rs-EEG-fMRI data with the data recorded outside the scanner. We then assessed the preservation of posterior alpha functional reactivity by computing the ratio between the EC and EO conditions during the EC-EO task. EEG-informed fMRI analysis of the EC-EO task was performed using alpha power-derived BOLD signal predictors obtained from the EEG signals corrected with different methods. Results: The BCG artifact caused significant distortions (increased absolute power, altered relative power) across all frequency bands. Artifact residuals/signal losses were present after applying all correction methods. The EEG reactivity to the EC-EO task was better preserved with ICA-based correction approaches, particularly when using ICA feature extraction to isolate alpha power fluctuations, which allowed to accurately predict hemodynamic signal fluctuations during the EEG-informed fMRI analysis. Discussion: Current software solutions for the BCG artifact problem offer limited efficiency to preserve the EEG spectral power properties using this particular EEG setup. The state-of-the-art approaches tested here can be further refined and should be combined with hardware implementations to better preserve EEG signal properties during simultaneous EEG-fMRI. Existing and novel BCG artifact correction methods should be validated by evaluating signal preservation of both ERPs and spontaneous EEG spectral power.

Improvement in borderline personality disorder symptomatology after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex: preliminary results

Objective: Current treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) involves psychological and pharmacological interventions. However, neuromodulation techniques such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may positively affect BPD symptomatology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and neuropsychological effects of rTMS on the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) in BPD patients. Methods: Fourteen patients with BPD were randomized into two groups (active vs. sham) for 15 sessions of rTMS on the DMPFC. Clinical effects were measured using the Borderline Symptoms List (BSL), Clinical Global Impression Scale for BPD (CGI-BPD), Borderline Evaluation of Severity over Time (BEST), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), and Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). Neuropsychological effects were determined by a Stop-Signal Task (SST), the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test (WCST), and the Iowa Gambling Test (IGT). Results: Within-group comparison showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in CGI-BPD (total score and six of nine psychopathologic domains), BEST, HDRS, HARS, and IGT scores for active modality. Conclusion: The 5 Hz-DMPFC rTMS technique was well tolerated and lessened the severity of BPD symptomatology, especially abandonment, affective issues, interpersonal relationships, suicidal behavior, anger, and paranoid ideation. Cognitive improvement was seen in decision-making. Additional studies are needed to fully evaluate the effects of rTMS on BPD symptomatology. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03832777.

Frontal functional connectivity and disease duration interactively predict cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive decline does not always follow a predictable course in Parkinson's disease (PD), with some patients remaining stable while others meet criteria for dementia from early stages. Functional connectivity has been proposed as a good correlate of cognitive decline in PD, although it has not been explored whether the association between this connectivity and cognitive ability is influenced by disease duration, which was our objective. METHODS: We included 30 patients with PD and 15 healthy controls (HC). Six cognitive domains were estimated based on neuropsychological assessment. Phase-based connectivity at frontal and posterior cortical regions was estimated from a resting EEG. RESULTS: The PD group showed significant impairment for the executive, visuospatial, and language domains compared with HC. Increased connectivity at frontal regions was also found in the PD group. Frontal delta and theta connectivity negatively influenced general cognition and visuospatial performance, but this association was moderated by disease duration, with increased connectivity predicting worse performance after 8 years of disease duration. CONCLUSION: Subtle neurophysiological changes underlie cognitive decline along PD progression, especially around a decade after motor symptoms onset. SIGNIFICANCE: Connectivity of EEG slow waves at frontal regions might be used as a predictor of cognitive decline in PD.

Improvement in borderline personality disorder symptomatology after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: Current treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) involves psychological and pharmacological interventions. However, neuromodulation techniques such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may positively affect BPD symptomatology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and neuropsychological effects of rTMS on the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) in BPD patients. METHODS: Fourteen patients with BPD were randomized into two groups (active vs. sham) for 15 sessions of rTMS on the DMPFC. Clinical effects were measured using the Borderline Symptoms List (BSL), Clinical Global Impression Scale for BPD (CGI-BPD), Borderline Evaluation of Severity over Time (BEST), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), and Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). Neuropsychological effects were determined by a Stop-Signal Task (SST), the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test (WCST), and the Iowa Gambling Test (IGT). RESULTS: Within-group comparison showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in CGI-BPD (total score and six of nine psychopathologic domains), BEST, HDRS, HARS, and IGT scores for active modality. CONCLUSION: The 5 Hz-DMPFC rTMS technique was well tolerated and lessened the severity of BPD symptomatology, especially abandonment, affective issues, interpersonal relationships, suicidal behavior, anger, and paranoid ideation. Cognitive improvement was seen in decision-making. Additional studies are needed to fully evaluate the effects of rTMS on BPD symptomatology. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03832777.

Características clínicas, neuropsicológicos y psicofisiológicos del trastorno por atracón: Resultados preliminares / Clinical, neuropsychological and psychophysiological features of binge eating disorder: Preliminary results

Resumen El trastorno por atracón (TA) es una condición compleja en la que se han descrito diferentes aspectos clínicos y fallas neuropsicológicas en los sujetos que lo padecen. En este estudio se compararon variables clínicas (VC), neuropsicológicas (VNPS) y psicofisiológicas (VPFS) entre participantes sanos (n = 15) y con TA (n = 15) evaluados en la [Omitido por el editor]. Las VC incluyeron el inventario del anhelo por el consumo de alimentos (IACA), sintomatología depresiva (SD), ansiedad (SA) e impulsividad. Se utilizaron la Tarea de Cartas de Wisconsin para evaluar flexibilidad cognitiva (FC) y la Tarea de Señal de Alto para control inhibitorio (CI) dentro de las VNPS; en las VPFS se obtuvo la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardiaca (VFC) durante una prueba de exposición a imágenes de alimentos. Los resultados muestran que los participantes con TA obtuvieron puntuaciones mayores en los instrumentos IACA (p < .0001), SD (p < .0001) y SA (p < .0001); mientras que en las VNPS mostraron fallas en la FC con incremento en el porcentaje de errores totales (p = .01), errores perseverativos (p = .03) y CI (p = .004). Para las VPFS se encontró una reducción de la VFC (p < .0001) en aquellos participantes con TA.

Abstract Binge eating disorder (BED) is a complex condition in which different clinical aspects and neuropsychological faults have been treated in subjects who have it. In this study, clinical (VC), neuropsychological (VNPS) and psychophysiological (VPFS) variables were compared between healthy participants (n = 15) and with BED (n = 15) evaluated in the medicine school of the Autonomous University of Querétaro. The VC included the evaluation of the food craving scale (FCS), depressive symptomatology (DS), anxiety (AS) and impulsivity. It is used in the Wisconsin Cards Sorting Test for Cognitive Flexibility (CF) and the Stop Signal Task for Inhibitory Control (IC) within the VNPS; In the VPFS, the heart rate variability (HRV) was obtained during an exposure test to food images. The results showed that the participants obtained high scores in the evaluation instruments for FCS (p < .0001), SD (p < .0001) and SA (p < .0001); whereas in the VNPS it failed in the FC with an increase in the percentage of total errors (p = .01), perseverative errors (p = .03) and CI (p = .004). For the VPFS, a reduction in HRV (p < .0001) was found in those participants with AT.

Auditory mismatch detection, distraction, and attentional reorientation (MMN-P3a-RON) in neurological and psychiatric disorders: A review.

Involuntary attention allows for the detection and processing of novel and potentially relevant stimuli that lie outside of cognitive focus. These processes comprise change detection in sensory contexts, automatic orientation toward this change, and the selection of adaptive responses, including reorientation to the original goal in cases when the detected change is not relevant for task demands. These processes have been studied using the Event-Related Potential (ERP) technique and have been associated to the Mismatch Negativity (MMN), the P3a, and the Reorienting Negativity (RON) electrophysiological components, respectively. This has allowed for the objective evaluation of the impact of different neuropsychiatric pathologies on involuntary attention. Additionally, these ERP have been proposed as alternative measures for the early detection of disease and the tracking of its progression. The objective of this review was to integrate the results reported to date about MMN, P3a, and RON in different neurological and psychiatric disorders. We included experimental studies with clinical populations that reported at least two of these three components in the same experimental paradigm. Overall, involuntary attention seems to reflect the state of cognitive integrity in different pathologies in adults. However, if the main goal for these ERP is to consider them as biomarkers, more research about their pathophysiological specificity in each disorder is needed, as well as improvement in the general experimental conditions under which these components are elicited. Nevertheless, these ERP represent a valuable neurophysiological tool for early detection and follow-up of diverse clinical populations.

Los padres como promotores del desarrollo de lenguaje de bebés prematuros: propuesta de intervención temprana / Parents as Promoters of Language Development in Premature Babies: a Proposal for Early intervention

Resumen Objetivo: Comparar dos sistemas de puntuación para un test de fluidez verbal con el Modelo de Escalas de Calificación. Método: Se analizaron datos de 289 participantes, de los cuales 92 habían sido diagnosticados con Parkinson. Las puntuaciones se calcularon con dos sistemas de categorización: un procedimiento convencional y otro basado en percentiles. Resultados: Las puntuaciones Rasch procedentes de percentiles dan lugar a categorías adecuadas y medidas fiables; la correlación con las puntuaciones del test Minimental es evidencia de validez concurrente. Tras controlar estadísticamente el efecto de la edad, las medidas Rasch procedentes de percentiles discriminan entre ambos grupos, lo que evidencia validez predictiva. Conclusiones: El análisis de los dos procedimientos permite recomendar el uso de las categorías basadas en percentiles.

Abstract Objective: Two scoring systems for a verbal fluency test were compared using the Rasch Rating Scale Model. Method: The analysis was carried out on 289 participants, 92 of whom had had a Parkinson's disease diagnosis. Scores were calculated with two different category systems: a conventional procedure and a percentile-based one. Results: The percentile-based Rasch scores produce adequate categories and reliable measures, while the correlation with the Mini Mental State Examination evinces concurrent validity. After statistically controlling for age, percentile-based Rasch measures discriminated between both groups, demonstrating predictive validity. Conclusions: The analysis of the two procedures allows for the recommendation of the use of percentile-based categories.

Influencia del estatus socioeconómico sobre variables cognitivas y electroencefalográficas en escolares con riesgo de daño cerebral / Influence of socioeconomic status on cognitive and electroencephalographic variables school children at risk

Introducción: el estatus socioeconómico puede impactar sobre la cognición y la actividad eléctrica cerebral de los niños, por la influencia que tiene sobre el desarrollo durante etapas tempranas. Objetivo: evaluar la asociación de variables socioeconómicas, con alteraciones cognitivas y electroencefalográficas, en un grupo de niños escolares con riesgo de daño cerebral. Métodos: se estudiaron 42 niños mexicanos, de 6-7 años de edad. Se realizó un estudio socioeconómico a los padres y los niños fueron evaluados mediante la Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil (subpruebas de lectura-escritura y escala de signos neurológicos blandos), la Escala de Inteligencia de Wechsler para Niños, la Escala de Conners para Padres-Revisada y un electroencefalograma en diferentes edades. Resultados: con las variables socioeconómicas y, mediante un análisis de conglomerados, se encontraron 3 grupos que mostraban una adecuada diferenciación académica y económica entre sí. Por el método de clasificación basado en regresiones dispersas, se identificaron las variables que diferenciaban significativamente a los 3 grupos: problemas sociales, cognitivos, síntomas inatento, índice TDAH (Trastorno por Déficit de Atención e Hiperactividad, Escala de Conners para Padres-Revisada), lectura de palabras, comprensión en lectura de oraciones, dictado de sílabas, precisión de lectura en voz alta, lectura de sílabas, dictado de no palabras, movimiento de oposición digital, agarre de lápiz (Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil) y primer electroencefalograma normal. Conclusiones: el grupo con más desventajas socioeconómicas tuvo un peor desempeño en la lectoescritura y mayor prevalencia de actividad paroxística no epileptiforme; mientras que, el grupo con mayores ventajas socioeconómicas, mostró mejor desempeño en estas habilidades, mayor proporción de electroencefalogramas normales y una tendencia hacia problemas de atención(AU)

Introduction: the socioeconomic status can impact on the cognition and electrical brain activity of children due to the influence it has on the development during early stages. Objective: to evaluate the association of socioeconomic variables with cognitive and electroencephalographic alterations, in a group of school children at risk of brain damage. Methods: 42 Mexican children in the ages from 6 to 7 years old were studied. A socioeconomic study was conducted on the parents, and the children were evaluated through the Child Neuropsychological Assessment (reading-writing subtests and the scale of neurological soft signs), the Wechsler´s Intelligence Scale for Children, the Conners´ Scale for Parents-Revised and an electroencephalogram in different ages. Results: with the socioeconomic variables and by means of an analysis of conglomerate, 3 groups were found that showed an adequate academic and economic differentiation among themselves. By the classification method based on scattered regressions were identified variables that significantly differentiated the 3 groups: social and cognitive problems, inattentive symptoms, ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, Conners Scale for Parents-Revised), reading of words, comprehension in reading of sentences, dictation of syllables, accuracy of reading aloud, reading of syllables, dictation of non words, movement of digital opposition, pencil´s grip (Neuropsychological Evaluation of Children) and first normal electroencephalogram. Conclusions: the group with more socioeconomic disadvantages had a worse performance in reading and writing and a higher prevalence of non-epileptiform paroxysmal activity; whereas, the group with the greatest socioeconomic advantages showed a better performance in these skills, a greater proportion of normal electroencephalograms and a tendency towards attention problems(AU)

Clinical improvement in patients with borderline personality disorder after treatment with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: preliminary results

Objective: Current treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD) consists of psychotherapy and pharmacological interventions. However, the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could be beneficial to improve some BPD symptoms. The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical improvement in patients with BPD after application of rTMS over the right or left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Method: Twenty-nine patients with BPD from the National Institute of Psychiatry, Mexico, were randomized in two groups to receive 15 sessions of rTMS applied over the right (1 Hz, n=15) or left (5 Hz, n=14) DLPFC. Improvement was measured by the Clinical Global Impression Scale for BPD (CGI-BPD), Borderline Evaluation of Severity Over Time (BEST), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). Results: Intragroup comparison showed significant (p < 0.05) reductions in every psychopathologic domain of the CGI-BPD and in the total scores of all scales in both groups. Conclusions: Both protocols produced global improvement in severity and symptoms of BPD, particularly in impulsiveness, affective instability, and anger. Further studies are warranted to explore the therapeutic effect of rTMS in BPD. Clinical trial registration: NCT02273674.

Clinical improvement in patients with borderline personality disorder after treatment with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: Current treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD) consists of psychotherapy and pharmacological interventions. However, the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could be beneficial to improve some BPD symptoms. The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical improvement in patients with BPD after application of rTMS over the right or left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). METHOD: Twenty-nine patients with BPD from the National Institute of Psychiatry, Mexico, were randomized in two groups to receive 15 sessions of rTMS applied over the right (1 Hz, n=15) or left (5 Hz, n=14) DLPFC. Improvement was measured by the Clinical Global Impression Scale for BPD (CGI-BPD), Borderline Evaluation of Severity Over Time (BEST), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). RESULTS: Intragroup comparison showed significant (p < 0.05) reductions in every psychopathologic domain of the CGI-BPD and in the total scores of all scales in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both protocols produced global improvement in severity and symptoms of BPD, particularly in impulsiveness, affective instability, and anger. Further studies are warranted to explore the therapeutic effect of rTMS in BPD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02273674

Stable Sparse Classifiers Identify qEEG Signatures that Predict Learning Disabilities (NOS) Severity.

In this paper, we present a novel methodology to solve the classification problem, based on sparse (data-driven) regressions, combined with techniques for ensuring stability, especially useful for high-dimensional datasets and small samples number. The sensitivity and specificity of the classifiers are assessed by a stable ROC procedure, which uses a non-parametric algorithm for estimating the area under the ROC curve. This method allows assessing the performance of the classification by the ROC technique, when more than two groups are involved in the classification problem, i.e., when the gold standard is not binary. We apply this methodology to the EEG spectral signatures to find biomarkers that allow discriminating between (and predicting pertinence to) different subgroups of children diagnosed as Not Otherwise Specified Learning Disabilities (LD-NOS) disorder. Children with LD-NOS have notable learning difficulties, which affect education but are not able to be put into some specific category as reading (Dyslexia), Mathematics (Dyscalculia), or Writing (Dysgraphia). By using the EEG spectra, we aim to identify EEG patterns that may be related to specific learning disabilities in an individual case. This could be useful to develop subject-based methods of therapy, based on information provided by the EEG. Here we study 85 LD-NOS children, divided in three subgroups previously selected by a clustering technique over the scores of cognitive tests. The classification equation produced stable marginal areas under the ROC of 0.71 for discrimination between Group 1 vs. Group 2; 0.91 for Group 1 vs. Group 3; and 0.75 for Group 2 vs. Group1. A discussion of the EEG characteristics of each group related to the cognitive scores is also presented.

Subtipos neuropsicológicos en dos grupos de niños mexicanos: con trastorno específico del aprendizaje o con buen desempeño académico / Neuropsychological subtypes in two groups of mexican children: with specific learning disability or good academic performance

En el presente trabajo se compararon dos grupos de niños mexicanos en edades comprendidas entre los 8 a 10 años, el primer grupo con trastorno específico en el aprendizaje (TEA), tanto en la precisión de la lectura como en el cálculo, y el otro con buen desempeño académico (BDA), por medio de Escala Wechsler de Inteligencia para Niños, en su cuarta versión (WISC-IV) y la batería de Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil (ENI), (subpruebas de Habilidades Académicas, Memoria, Atención y Habilidades Metalingüísticas), ambos instrumentos normados en población mexicana. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p≤ 0.05) entre los niños BDA y TEA, mediante la U de Mann Whitney, en todas las subpruebas evaluadas a excepción del Índice Velocidad de Procesamiento (WISC), Conteo, Codificación/Evocación y Atención Auditiva, además de Atención visual (ENI). Mediante el Análisis de Componentes Principales se identificaron 5 subgrupos: 2 en los niños con BDA y 3 en los TEA. Las diferencias significativas (p≤ 0.05)entre las variables cognitivas y académicas fueron determinadas mediante la prueba de Kruskal-Wallis. Fue posible observar que los subgrupos TEA obtuvieron puntajes más bajos que los subgrupos BDA tanto en habilidades académicas como en otras variables cognitivas,siendo el Índice de Memoria de Trabajo en la escala Wechsler y las Habilidades Metalingüísticas de la ENI las que mejor diferenciaron a los subgrupos TEA de los BDA.Conclusión: La aplicación de instrumentos normados en la población bajo estudio resulta de gran utilidad para identificar subtipos neuropsicológicos tantoen niños con BDA como con TEA.

In this work two groups of Mexican children aged between 8 to 10 years old were compared, the first group with specific learningdisorder (SLD),in both reading accuracy as in the calculation, and the other compared to good performance academic (GPA) by Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, in its fourth version (WISC-IV) and battery Child Neuropsychological Assessment (ENI), (subtests Academic Skills, Memory, Attention and Metalinguistic Skills), both instruments normed in Mexican population. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found among SLD and GPA children, by Mann Whitney U Test, they were found in all subtests evaluated except Processing Speed Rate (WISC), Counting, Coding / Evocation and Auditory Attention, also Visual Attention (ENI). By the Principal Component Analysis were identified five subgroups: 2 children with GPA and 3 in the SLD. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between cognitive and academic variables were determined by the Kruskal-Wallis Test. It was possible to observe that the TEA subgroups scored lower than the BDA subgroups in academic abilities as well as in other cognitive variables, with the Working Memory Index on the Wechsler scale as the subtests that evaluate the ENI Metalinguistic Skills the variables that give the best discrimination between the TEA and the BDA subgroups.Conclusion: The application of normed instruments in the population under study is useful to identify neuropsychological subtypes in children with GPA as SLD.

Neurofeedback in Learning Disabled Children: Visual versus Auditory Reinforcement.

Children with learning disabilities (LD) frequently have an EEG characterized by an excess of theta and a deficit of alpha activities. NFB using an auditory stimulus as reinforcer has proven to be a useful tool to treat LD children by positively reinforcing decreases of the theta/alpha ratio. The aim of the present study was to optimize the NFB procedure by comparing the efficacy of visual (with eyes open) versus auditory (with eyes closed) reinforcers. Twenty LD children with an abnormally high theta/alpha ratio were randomly assigned to the Auditory or the Visual group, where a 500 Hz tone or a visual stimulus (a white square), respectively, was used as a positive reinforcer when the value of the theta/alpha ratio was reduced. Both groups had signs consistent with EEG maturation, but only the Auditory Group showed behavioral/cognitive improvements. In conclusion, the auditory reinforcer was more efficacious in reducing the theta/alpha ratio, and it improved the cognitive abilities more than the visual reinforcer.

The hemodynamic response to acoustically modified syllables in premature and full term newborn infants acquired by near infrared spectroscopy / Respuesta hemodinámica a sílabas modificadas acústicamente en recién nacidos prematuros y a término adquirida por espectroscopía del infrarrojo cercano / Resposta hemodinâmica a sílabas modificadas acusticamente em recém-nascidos prematuros e a termo adquirida por espectroscopia do infravermelho próximo

This research assesses, in newborns, the hemodynamic response to acoustically modified syllables (pronounced in a prolonged manner), versus the response to unmodified syllables (pronounced at a normal rate). The aim was to assess which of these stimulation conditions produced better syllable discrimination in two groups of neonates: 13 preterm (mean gestational age 30 weeks, SD 3 weeks), and 13 full term newborns (mean age 38 weeks, SD 1 week). Syllable discrimination, in each condition, was assessed by using an oddball paradigm (equal syllable trials vs. different syllable trials). The statistical analysis was based on the comparison between the hemodynamic response [oxyHbO] obtained by Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to different syllable trials vs. equal syllable trials, in each condition. The modified syllable condition was better in producing trial discrimination in both groups. The amplitude of the hemodynamic response to the different syllable trials was greater than the one to the equal syllable trials: for term infants, t = 2.59, p = 0.024, and for preterm t = 2.38, p = 0.035. This finding occurred in the left temporal lobe. These data suggest that the modified syllables facilitate processing of phonemes from birth.

Esta investigación evalúa, en neonatos, la respuesta hemodinámica ante sílabas modificadas acústicamente (pronunciadas de manera prolongada) en comparación con la respuesta a sílabas no modificadas (pronunciadas a una velocidad normal). El objetivo fue evaluar cuál de estas condiciones de estimulación producía una mejor discriminación silábica en dos grupos de neonatos: 13 prematuros (edad gestacional promedio de 30 semanas, DE 3 semanas) y 13 nacidos a término (edad gestacional promedio de 38 semanas, DE 1 semana). La discriminación de sílabas, en cada condición, se evaluó mediante un paradigma oddball (ensayos con sílabas iguales vs. ensayos con sílaba diferente). El análisis estadístico se basó en la comparación de la respuesta hemodinámica [oxyHb] obtenida por espectroscopia de infrarrojo cercano (NIRS) ante ensayos con sílabas iguales Vs. ensayos con una sílaba diferente en cada condición. Se encontró que la condición de sílabas modificadas obtuvo mejores resultados para la discriminación entre ensayos en ambos grupos. La amplitud de la respuesta hemodinámica ante el ensayo con una sílaba diferente fue significativamente mayor que ante el ensayo con sílabas iguales: en recién nacidos a término, t = 2,59, p = 0,024 y en los prematuros, t = 2,38, p = 0,035. Este hallazgo ocurrió en el lóbulo temporal izquierdo. Estos datos sugieren que las sílabas modificadas facilitan el procesamiento de fonemas desde el nacimiento.

Esta pesquisa avalia, em neonatos, a resposta hemodinâmica diante sílabas modificadas acusticamente (pronunciadas de maneira prolongada) em comparação com a resposta a sílabas não modificadas (pronunciadas a uma velocidade normal). O objetivo foi avaliar qual destas condições de estimulação produzia uma melhor discriminação silábica em dois grupos de neonatos: 13 prematuros (idade gestacional média de 30 semanas, DE 3 semanas) e 13 nascidos a termo (idade gestacional média de 38 semanas, DE 1 semana). A discriminação de sílabas, em cada condição, foi avaliada mediante um paradigma oddball (ensaios com sílabas iguais vs. ensaios com sílaba diferente). A análise estadística se baseou na comparação da resposta hemodinâmica [oxyHb] obtida por espectroscopia de infravermelho próximo (NIRS) ante ensaios com sílabas iguais Vs. ensaios com uma sílaba diferente em cada condição. Encontrou-se que a condição de sílabas modificadas obteve melhores resultados para a discriminação entre ensaios em ambos os grupos. A amplitude da resposta hemodinâmica ante o ensaio com uma sílaba diferente foi significativamente maior que perante o ensaio com sílabas iguais: em recém-nascidos a termo, t = 2,59, p = 0,024 e nos prematuros, t = 2,38, p = 0,035. Este descobrimento ocorreu no lóbulo temporal esquerdo. Estes dados sugerem que as sílabas modificadas facilitam o processamento de fonemas desde o nascimento.

[Electroencephalographic and neurodevelopmental disorders in toddlers with severe congenital heart diseases. Preliminary study]. / Alteraciones electroencefalográficas y del neurodesarrollo en niños portadores de cardiopatías congénitas severas. Estudio preliminar.

UNLABELLED: Within the field of pediatric heart disease, congenital cardiopathology is the most important issue due to the fact that in these patients a delay of neurodevelopment is the most frequent morbidity. The major aim of this work was to determine the impact of severe congenital cardiopathology (SCC) on the central nervous system (CNS) through the study of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and the assessment of neurodevelopment. POPULATION AND METHODS: Children under 3 years old, 41 of them presenting SCC and 15 healthy controls (C) were studied. Conventional EEG recording and assessment of neurodevelopment were performed. RESULTS: In twenty children presenting SCC (48.8%) the EEG was found abnormal (paroxysmal of spikes and sharp waves). Forty of them (97.6%) presented neurodevelopmental alterations, including hypotonia and a delay in gross motor skills. When comparing EEG between SCC and C children, odds ratio was 13.33 (1.602-111) and comparing neurodevelopment delay, it was 35 (3.769-235). Both were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.00039 and p ≤ 0.00038, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of children suffering from SCC exhibited EEG patterns with abnormal epileptic-like activity although without clinical manifestation of seizures. These children also showed delay features in different areas of neurodevelopmental. The assessment of new born carrying some type of severe cardiopathology indicated that they were under high risk of suffering from CNS altered development.

Análisis de fuentes del EEG en pacientes tratados con estimulación magnética transcraneal a 5 Hz como tratamiento antidepresivo / Electroencephalographic source analysis in patients receiving 5-Hz transcranial magnetic stimulation as antidepressant treatment

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a technique that allows noninvasive electrical stimulation of the cortex with few side effects. An antidepressant effect has been proposed when rTMS is delivered over prefrontal dorsolateral cortex (DLPFC) ≥5Hz. Quantitative EEG studies have shown increases in alpha and theta power bands as well as frontal interhemispheric asymmetries in most recordings from depressed patients. rTMS over left DLPFC at 5Hz involve a safer and more tolerable procedure, and its neurophysiological correlates has not been explored using EEG source analysis. The aim of this research was to study changes in EEG sources using VARTERA method in a group of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) treated with 5Hz rTMS over left DLPFC as single or combined treatment with escitalopram. Methods 18 patients with DSM-IV MDD diagnosis without treatment for the current episode were included. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: A) rTMS+escitalopram 10mg, n=9; B) rTMS+placebo, n=9. Subjects received 15 sessions of rTMS on a daily basis. In order to compare changes in EEG sources two recordings were obtained, prior and after treatment. HDRS, BDI and HARD were used for clinical assessments. Results All patients of group A and eight patients of group B showed response to treatment (considered as a reduction of 50% in HDRS score). An increase in absolute power at 9.37Hz and 10.17Hz in temporal and postcentral gyrus on the left hemisphere was found in group B. Absolute power in those frequencies was decreased in the same regions for group A. In addition, an increased power in beta band frequencies was observed in both hemispheres for group A. Conclusion Increases in alpha band could be the hallmark of the 5Hz rTMS, but it could be reduced by escitalopram. Besides, increases observed in beta band for group A could be related to escitalopram effect.

La estimulación magnética transcraneal repetitiva (EMTr) es una técnica que permite estimular eléctricamente la corteza cerebral de manera no invasiva y con pocos efectos secundarios. Se ha propuesto que la EMTr aplicada sobre la corteza prefrontal dorsolateral (CPFDL) izquierda con frecuencias ≥5Hz tiene efectos antidepresivos. Se ha encontrado que en el electroencefalograma cuantitativo (QEEG por sus siglas en inglés) la mayoría de pacientes deprimidos presentan incrementos en las bandas theta y alfa, así como asimetrías interhemisféricas en la actividad alfa en regiones anteriores. La EMTr sobre la CPFDL izquierda a 5Hz ofrece ventajas considerables en seguridad y tolerabilidad; sin embargo, sus correlatos neurofisiológicos no han sido explorados por el análisis de fuentes del EEG. Objetivo Estudiar los cambios en las fuentes del EEG según el método VARETA en un grupo de pacientes con trastorno depresivo mayor que recibieron EMTr a 5Hz sobre la corteza prefrontal dorsolateral izquierda como tratamiento único o en combinación con escitalopram. Material y métodos Se estudiaron 18 pacientes con diagnóstico de trastorno depresivo mayor de acuerdo con los criterios del DSM-IV sin tratamiento para el episodio en curso. Los sujetos habían sido aleatoriamente asignados a uno de los siguientes grupos de tratamiento: A) EMTr+escitalopram 10mg, n=9; B) EMTr+placebo, n=9. Se aplicó EMTr, a 5Hz en una sesión diaria durante 15 días. Se obtuvieron dos registros electroencefalográficos, uno basal y otro final, con el fin de comparar los cambios en las fuentes de actividad eléctrica cerebral, pretratamiento y post-tratamiento. Se realizaron evaluaciones clinimétricas con las escalas de Hamilton para Depresión y Ansiedad y el Inventario de Depresión de Beck. Resultados Todos los pacientes en el grupo A y ocho pacientes en el grupo B respondieron al tratamiento, con una reducción de 50% o más en la escala HDRS. En el análisis de fuentes se encontró un efecto en el grupo B caracterizado por incremento en la PA de 9.37 a 10.17Hz, en regiones temporales y giro poscentral izquierdos, mismo que se encontró disminuido en el grupo A, Además se encontró un incremento en fracuencias correspondientes a la banda beta en regiones frontales de ambos hemisferios en el grupo A. Conclusiones Podría considerarse que el incremento en la banda alfa es característico de la EMTr a 5Hz, mismo que se ve reducido por efecto del escitalopram. Por otro lado, se observó que el grupo A mostró incrementos en fuentes correspondientes a la banda beta como posible efecto relacionado del fármaco antidepresivo.

Neurobehavioral assessment of children presenting diverse congenital cardiopathologies.

Brain maturation in 1-36 month old children suffering from congenital cardiopathologies was assessed after a study of psychomotor development. The Rogers' test (Rogers et al., Developmental programming for infants and young children. Volume 2. Early intervention developmental profile, Revised edition, ESL/ELT Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1981) was applied to 65 children, of whom 21 presented with simple cardiopathologies (CpS) and 22 with complex cardiopathologies (CpC). All children were matched by age, sex and socioeconomic status to 22 healthy children in a control group (C). Mean differences between the three groups were established by applying the Kruskal-Wallis test, and mean differences between the C and CpS/CpC groups were determined using the Mann-Whitney test. The proportion of cases evaluated as "low" in each group was calculated by applying the Rogers' test, and a test of proportion differences was applied between the C and CpS/CpC groups. CpS children performed similarly to the C, whereas CpC children scored significantly lower than C children on all variables. It is highly likely that the suboptimal psychomotor performance observed in CpC children was due to compromised hemodynamics and related to subclinical immaturity of cerebral development.

Los nuevos empresarios: Trayectoria del uso a la venta de drogas en contextos de fiesta / The new businessmen: Pathways from drug use to drug dealing in party contexts

Drugs use at party contexts has increased in recent decades. Drugs dealing facilitates consumer access to substances, whose sales practices vary according to drugs use, places for the consumption and the drug social function. Drug dealing is socially constructed from a set of practices ranging from reasons to dealing and those related to the consolidation as a common practice. The aim of this research was to describe and analyze the drugs users' experience in party contexts, about their dealer's construction process. An interpretative multiple-case study with the snowball technique was carried out to get the participants. The information was obtained by a semi-structured interview and nonparticipant observation at the dealing places. The information obtained points out the group's participation on the selection of the dealer as the initiation of drugs dealing, the extroversion features and communication skills as an important profile to be a dealer; specially, the capability to satisfy the group's emotional request through the drugs. Also, benefits as acceptation, protection and the warmth from the group and the economical earning. The dealer/businessmen consolidation is socially constructed according to the new identity assumed, the group participation and the specific activities as a business.

El uso de drogas en contextos de fiesta se ha incrementado en las últimas décadas. El narcomenudeo facilita el acceso a sustancias de consumo, cuyas prácticas de venta varían conforme a la droga de uso, los espacios de consumo y la función de la droga en los grupos que la consumen. La venta de drogas implica una serie de prácticas que la construyen y que incluyen los motivos del inicio de venta, el proceso de desarrollo y las relacionadas con la consolidación de la venta como práctica habitual. El objetivo de esta investigación fue describir y analizar la experiencia de usuarios de drogas en contextos de fiesta respecto al proceso en que se construyen como dealers. Para lo anterior, se realizó un estudio interpretativo de casos múltiples, empleando la técnica de "bola de nieve" para captar a los participantes. La observación se obtuvo por medio de una entrevista semiestructurada y la observación no participante en escenarios de venta. Se obtuvo información relacionada con los elementos del salto del uso a la venta como la elección del dealer por el grupo, su perfil para ser elegido como la extroversión y habilidades de comunicación; y sobre todo su capacidad para satisfacer la demanda de emociones de los miembros de su grupo por medio de las drogas de venta. Además, de la aceptación, protección y afecto del grupo y las ganancias económicas. La consolidación como dealer/empresario se construye conforme se asumen una nueva identidad, la participación del grupo y las actividades específicas de la empresa.