Electrical mapping in bipolar disorder patients during the oddball paradigm.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by an alternated occurrence between acute mania episodes and depression or remission moments. The objective of this study is to analyze the information processing changes in BP (Bipolar Patients) (euthymia, depression and mania) during the oddball paradigm, focusing on the P300 component, an electric potential of the cerebral cortex generated in response to external sensorial stimuli, which involves more complex neurophysiological processes related to stimulus interpretation. Twenty-eight bipolar disorder patients (BP) (17 women and 11 men with average age of 32.5, SD: 9.5) and eleven healthy controls (HC) (7 women and 4 men with average age of 29.78, SD: 6.89) were enrolled in this study. The bipolar patients were divided into 3 major groups (i.e., euthymic, depressive and maniac) according to the score on the Clinical Global Impression--Bipolar Version (CGI-BP). The subjects performed the oddball paradigm simultaneously to the EEG record. EEG data were also recorded before and after the execution of the task. A one-way ANOVA was applied to compare the P300 component among the groups. After observing P300 and the subcomponents P3a and P3b, a similarity of amplitude and latency between euthymic and depressive patients was observed, as well as small amplitude in the pre-frontal cortex and reduced P3a response. This can be evidence of impaired information processing, cognitive flexibility, working memory, executive functions and ability to shift the attention and processing to the target and away from distracting stimuli in BD. Such neuropsychological impairments are related to different BD symptoms, which should be known and considered, in order to develop effective clinical treatment strategies.

Educação física na década da educação para o desenvolvimento sustentável / Physical education in the decade of education for sustainable fevelopment

A UNESCO lidera a Década da Educação para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável para o período de 2005 a 2014. Diante dessa proposta internacional, esse estudo objetivou investigar como profissionais, que educam através de atividades físicas, pensam colaborar para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável. A pesquisa utilizou a abordagem qualitativa, coletando dados principalmente através de entrevistas. Os resultados da pesquisa incluíram reflexões sobre: a relação entre Educação Ambiental, Educação para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Educação Física; o papel da Educação Física em trabalhar valores através de jogos cooperativos e competitivos; parcerias desejáveis no contexto escolar; dificuldades relativas à carência de recursos, a formação dos professores e a desvalorização da Educação Física; e atividades físicas possíveis para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Recomenda-se estudos para produzir material didático específico de Educação Física para utilização com os alunos e estudos para elaboração de políticas públicas de incremento aos recursos materiais nas escolas.

UNESCO leads Education for Sustainable Development Decade from 2005 to 2014. In face of this international proposal, this study´s objective was to investigate how professionals that educate throug hphysical activities think their colaboration to Sustainable Development. The research used qualitative method collecting data mainly trough interviews. The research results included reflections about: the relationship between Environmental Education, Education for Sustainable Development and Physical Education; the Physical Education role in cultivate values through cooperative and competitive games; desirable partnerships in the school context; dificulties related to lack of resources, teachers education and the non valuing of Physical Education; and possible activities for Sustainable Development. Studies are recommended to produce specific physical education didactic material to use it with the students and studies to elaborate public policies of incrementation of material resources in schools.