Youth Dating Violence, Behavioral Sensitivity, and Emotional Intelligence: A Mediation Analysis.

Intimate partner violence is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing psychological, physical, and sexual components. Violence in young couples is common in our society. This kind of violence is usually bidirectional, which adds to its complexity. This study aimed to explore how victimization (in three dimensions: non-abuse, technical mistreatment, and mistreatment) and perpetration (in two dimensions: non-perpetrator and perpetrator) are related to the BIS (Behavioral Inhibition System)/BAS (Behavioral Approach System), and it also evaluated if the dimensions of emotional intelligence (EI) (emotional attention, clarity, and regulation) mediate this relationship. Violence was evaluated in 272 young volunteer participants, as well as BIS/BAS behavioral sensitivity and perceived emotional intelligence. The correlations between these variables were analyzed, and a mediation analysis was also conducted. The results show that victimization (of the sexual and coercive type) was associated with less BAS activation, while victimization (of the sexual, humiliation, and detachment types) was associated with less BIS activity. All types of victimization were associated with less EI, specifically with less emotional clarity. Aggression (of the sexual, humiliation, detachment, and coercion types) was related to lower BAS and higher BIS sensitivity. Detachment aggression was associated with low emotional clarity. In conclusion, relationships between victimization and perpetration are evidenced in terms of BIS/BAS sensitivity and EI. Specifically, the dimension of EI emotional clarity acts as a mediator of BIS activation in victims of detachment.

Victimization and Perception of Abuse in Adolescent and Young Homosexual and Heterosexual Couples in Spain.

Currently, violence in adolescent and young couples has a significant social impact on young people's physical and psychological health. However, the study of violence in homosexual couples must also be addressed. This research analyzes the levels of violent victimization and the perception of abuse in both homosexual and heterosexual couples. Participants' ages ranged between 14 and 29 years (M = 20.14, SD = 3.464). We used The Dating Violence Questionnaire-Revised (CUIVNO-R), which was applied in two consecutive studies. The results indicate high levels of victimization, especially in the sample of homosexual participants. The scores generally show a low perception of couple violence but high victimization rates. The results of this study reveal the importance of the issue of violence in couples from minority groups and suggest that couple violence should not be understood as unidirectional, i.e., exclusively from men to women. These findings show the need for education in healthy relationships and consideration of different types of couples in these relationships.

Effects of tDCS applied over the left IFG and pSTG language areas on verb recognition task performance.

Knowledge about the relevance of the left inferior frontal gyrus (lIFG) and the left posterior superior temporal gyrus (lpSTG) in visual recognition of word categories is limited at present. tDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that alters cortical activity and excitability, and thus might be a useful tool for delineating the specific impact of both areas on word recognition. The objective of this study was to explore whether the visual recognition process of verb categories is improved by a single tDCS session. lIFG and lpSTG areas were separately modulated by anodal tDCS to evaluate its effects on verbal recognition. Compared to sham stimulation, motor reaction times (RTs) were reduced after anodal tDCS over the lpSTG, and this effect was independent of the performing hand (right/left). These findings suggest that this region is involved in visual word recognition independently from the performing hand.

Standard Non-Personalized Electric Field Modeling of Twenty Typical tDCS Electrode Configurations via the Computational Finite Element Method: Contributions and Limitations of Two Different Approaches.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation procedure to modulate cortical excitability and related brain functions. tDCS can effectively alter multiple brain functions in healthy humans and is suggested as a therapeutic tool in several neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, variability of results is an important limitation of this method. This variability may be due to multiple factors, including age, head and brain anatomy (including skull, skin, CSF and meninges), cognitive reserve and baseline performance level, specific task demands, as well as comorbidities in clinical settings. Different electrode montages are a further source of variability between tDCS studies. A procedure to estimate the electric field generated by specific tDCS electrode configurations, which can be helpful to adapt stimulation protocols, is the computational finite element method. This approach is useful to provide a priori modeling of the current spread and electric field intensity that will be generated according to the implemented electrode montage. Here, we present standard, non-personalized model-based electric field simulations for motor, dorsolateral prefrontal, and posterior parietal cortex stimulation according to twenty typical tDCS electrode configurations using two different current flow modeling software packages. The resulting simulated maximum intensity of the electric field, focality, and current spread were similar, but not identical, between models. The advantages and limitations of both mathematical simulations of the electric field are presented and discussed systematically, including aspects that, at present, prevent more widespread application of respective simulation approaches in the field of non-invasive brain stimulation.

Emotional Intelligence as a Mediator between Subjective Sleep Quality and Depression during the Confinement Due to COVID-19.

In March of 2020, as a consequence of the health crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus, the State of Alarm and home confinement of the entire population was imposed in Spain. It is foreseeable that this exceptional situation will have psychological effects on citizens. In this work, the impact of confinement on perceived sleep quality and depression is evaluated through questionnaires, as well as the mediating role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in this relationship. Our results show, firstly, higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in women and young people associated with poorer perceived sleep quality, and secondly, that Emotional Intelligence intervenes as a mediator in this relationship through three different pathways. Worse perceived quality of sleep causes a greater number of depressive symptoms. In addition, this direct relationship may be enhanced by the mediating role of Emotional Intelligence, which we can express in three different ways: low perceived sleep quality and high emotional attention lead to greater depression; low perceived sleep quality and low emotional clarity increase greater symptoms of depression; and low perceived sleep quality together with low clarity and low emotional repair increase levels of depression. Therefore, we can conclude that improving the skills involved in Emotional Intelligence might increase perceived sleep quality, and thus reduce depressive symptoms, which in turn may improve the quality of life.

Relationships of Adolescent and Young Couples with Violent Behaviors: Conflict Resolution Strategies.

Violence in adolescent and young couples is a major issue given its high prevalence and the serious consequences that it brings. For this reason, this research has stated two main objectives. In the first place, to ascertain the level of agreement between both members of the couple both with regard to occurrence and frequency of violence. Second, to ascertain the level of agreement on the frequency of use of conflict resolution strategies in problematic situations in 141 heterosexual couples. The age of the sample was between 17 and 30. The tools used were the DVQ-R questionnaire and the Spanish adaptation by Bonache, Ramírez-Santana, and González-Mendez (2016) of the Inventory of Conflict Resolution Styles (CSRI)The results indicate that of the 141 couples in the sample, 112 were identified as violent, thus indicating a high prevalence of violence within their partner relationships. Regarding the levels of agreement and accordance, statistically significant discrepancies are reflected in the perception of violence between men and women, analyzing both roles (aggression and victimization). Finally, also noteworthy is use of the strategy of negative involvement in conflicts, with significant differences in relation to sex; it is the girls who make the most use of this strategy, and the high level of agreement on the frequency of problem-solving is reflected on that strategy.

Adolescent Conflict and Young Adult Couple Relationships: Directionality of Violence.

The objective of this research was to study victimization and aggression in adolescent and young couple relationships, as well as to identify the directionality of violence perpetration in a sample of 984 people between 15 and 31 years of age, of which 58.2% were women and 41.8% were men. Regarding the educational level of the population under study, 26% were students of junior high school, senior high school, or vocational training and 56.5% were college students. The research design followed the nonprobability purposive sampling method and used the DVQ-R questionnaire. The results suggest that violence is 65.2% bidirectional and 14.30% unidirectional, being bidirectionality more frequent in psychological violence and decreasing when physical violence occurs. The results reveal the need to integrate the different modalities of dating violence (unidirectional and bidirectional) and unperceived violence -that gives rise to technical abuse- into the different prevention programs addressed to adolescents and youth.

El objetivo de esta investigación ha sido estudiar la victimización y la agresión en las relaciones de parejas adolescentes y jóvenes, así como comprobar la direccionalidad de la violencia perpetrada a través del estudio de 984 personas. Las edades están comprendidas entre los 15 y los 31 años de edad. En cuanto a la distribución de los sexos, el 58.2% son mujeres y el 41.8% restante hombres. Respecto al nivel educativo de la muestra, el 56.5% son universitarios y el 26% tienen estudios secundarios, bachillerato o formación profesional. El diseño de la investigación ha sido de tipo no probabilístico intencional. Se utilizó el Cuestionario Cuvino-R (Rodríguez-Díaz et al., 2017). Los resultados indican que la violencia se muestra bidireccional en un 65,2% y unidireccional en un 14,30%, siendo la bidireccionalidad más frecuente en la violencia psicológica, y disminuyendo cuando se agrava la conducta con violencia física. Con base en estos resultados, se debería discutir la necesidad de integrar las diferentes modalidades de violencia en la relación (Unidireccional o Bidireccional) y la violencia no percibida que da lugar al maltrato técnico en los diferentes campos de la prevención con adolescentes y jóvenes.

Iowa Gambling Task and Distortion in Perception of Body Image Among Adolescent Women With Eating Disorders.

The Iowa gambling task (IGT) is an instrument for the neuropsychological evaluation of cognitive and emotional decision making (DM) processes that was created to test the somatic marker hypothesis (SMH) described by Damasio in 1994. It was initially applied to patients with frontal lobe lesions due to its association with executive functions but was subsequently used on patients with a variety of disorders. Although the DM process is inherently perceptual, few studies have applied the IGT to examine DM processes in patients with eating disorders (EDs), and even fewer have associated the IGT to the perceptual distortion of body image (PDBI) in this population. People diagnosed with ED exhibit heightened control over their somatic responses-for example, they can delay digestion for hours-and DM may be affected in this condition. This study compares the performance of two samples of adolescent women-hospitalized patients with ED, and healthy controls with similar demographic characteristics-on the IGT using body image as a possible factor in the SMH. Seventy-four women with a mean age of 14.97 years (SD = 2.347) participated. To analyze their body self-image, we used the figure-rating scale and compared the results with their body mass index (BMI). Correlations between indices of the IGT and distortion in body image were then explored. The results revealed significant differences between the groups in terms of evolving performance on the partial IGT. Patients with ED performed worse than their healthy counterparts in the last 40 trials and exhibited greater distortions in their body image, especially in terms of overestimation. Indices of these distortions were negatively correlated with the total IGT. These results are compatible with the SMH because they suggest that patients with ED evinced blindness with regard to the future, as described by their authors. In addition, a negative correlation was found between the IGT and PDBI, showing that a more distorted body image was associated with lower IGT, that is, more disadvantageous or riskier decisions were made by the subjects with more distortion.

Impulsivity, Emotional Intelligence, and Alcohol Consumption in Young People: A Mediation Analysis.

Alcohol consumption in young people is a public health problem. Due to the harmful consequences and the large population using alcoholic substances, it would be important to determine the biological, psychological, and social factors associated with alcohol use and abuse. The main object of this study is to explore which components of impulsivity, according to the main theoretical models, have predictive power regarding alcohol consumption in young people. A secondary objective is to determine if emotional intelligence has a mediating role between the components of impulsivity and alcohol consumption, and thus specifically contribute to the knowledge about the mediation processes between those variables that are involved in the initiation and maintenance of alcohol consumption. For this purpose, 384 participants were recruited (83.1% females, n = 319), with mean age of 20.46 years (SD = 1.90; range 18-25). All participants were alcohol consumers at the beginning of the study. Data collection was conducted via online survey; impulsivity was evaluated by several questionnaires (Sensation Seeking Scale Form V, Barratt Impulsivity Scales 11, and Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward), and emotional intelligence was evaluated by the Trait Meta-Mood Scale. The results reveal that the dimension of disinhibition (a dimension of the sensation search scale) significantly has the highest predictive value on alcohol consumption. Moreover, our data show that the total effect and direct effect of disinhibition on frequency of alcohol consumption were both significant. The mediating role of emotional intelligence in this process was also significant. These findings show which variables should be considered to prevent alcohol consumption in young people.

Mediating Effect of Trait Emotional Intelligence Between the Behavioral Activation System (BAS)/Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and Positive and Negative Affect.

Gray (1970, 1981, 1987) proposed a behavioral motivation theory (Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, RST), which describes the Behavioral Activation/Approach System (BAS) and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS). Some studies relate higher activation of BAS to positive affect, whereas BIS activation is linked to negative affect, particularly to high levels of anxiety and depression. Research data suggests that greater Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) influences optimal development of well-being and psychological adjustment, such as positive affective states. However, a recent study relates the motivational BIS/BAS systems with TEI, showing that high TEI is characterized by sensitivity to reward (BAS), and low TEI due to activation of the BIS system. The aim of this study was to explore how TEI may mediate the relationship between BIS/BAS sensitivity and positive and negative affect. Four-hundred and sixty-seven undergraduate students (385 females) were evaluated. TEI was evaluated with the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS). Affective states were measured with the Positive (PA) and Negative Affect (NA) Schedule, and BIS/BAS sensitivity was measured with The Sensitivity to Punishment (SP) and Sensitivity to Reward (SR) Questionnaire. The results reveal the influence of the two motivational systems on affective states, and show how this relationship is modified by and better explained through TEI. That is, a stronger approach to appetitive stimuli produces more positive affect, but a belief that one [does not] understand unpleasant emotions or that one analyzes them, or thinks that one cannot regulate or control emotions will reduce that positive state. Greater activation of inhibitory behaviors will produce greater negative affect, and this will increase when one perceives that one attends excessively to one's feelings or does not understand them or feels incapable of regulating them. Accordingly, although motivators could be a focus of interest for intervention, this study shows that the efficiency and profitability of these practical applications increases by adding TEI.

[Cognitive implications in the psychophysical estimation of taste]. / Implicaciones cognitivas en la estimación psicofísica del sabor.

INTRODUCTION: in sensory perception of taste, it is difficult to learn the concepts of absolute threshold (AT), the psychophysical methods to estimate it and the influence exerted by prior knowledge on their perception and recognition, because they have little awareness. OBJECTIVE: to assess absolute thresholds of four basic flavors in a sample of healthy young people, in conditions of food restriction/without restriction, and to analyze the influence of prior knowledge of astringency in its detection-identification. METHODS: one hundred and fourteen participants with an average of 20.03 years old (SD = 5.45), 75.4% of them women, were put in direct contact with chemical substances of basic flavors and astringency through a theoretical-practical tasting. An inverted treatment design was applied with experimental conditions on food restriction and knowledge of astringency. RESULTS: all identified their AT for basic flavors. The group with restriction was significantly more sensitive (Tb = -3.305, p = 0.001) to sweet (AU = 2 g/l) than the group without restriction (AU = 5 g/l). The detection-identification of astringency was significantly higher (t = -13.323, p = 0.000) with previous information of the name (79.31%) than without this information (19.64%), confusing or describing it as bitter taste (80.36). CONCLUSION: taste learning is facilitated with the performance of psychophysical measurements of chemical senses, together with training of certain theoretical concepts about taste perception and flavor denomination, because it facilitates the cognitive process for detection-identification. In addition, the process for the previous internal homeostasis of participants must be considered as their AU results vary according to the hunger/satiety conditions prior to the psychophysical estimation.

INTRODUCCIÓN: en la percepción sensorial del gusto, los conceptos de umbral absoluto (UA), los métodos psicofísicos para estimarlo y la influencia que ejerce el conocimiento previo sobre su percepción y reconocimiento son de difícil aprendizaje por su escaso estado de conciencia. OBJETIVO: evaluar los umbrales de detección de los cuatros sabores básicos en una muestra de jóvenes sanos, en condiciones de restricción de alimentos/no-restricción, y analizar la influencia del conocimiento previo de la astringencia para su detección-identificación. MÉTODO: se puso en contacto directo con las sustancias químicas de los sabores y de astringencia a 114 participantes con media de 20,03 años (DT = 5.45), el 75,4% mujeres, mediante una degustación teórica-práctica. Se aplicó un diseño de tratamiento invertido con las condiciones experimentales sobre restricción de alimentos y conocimiento de astringencia. RESULTADOS: todos identificaron sus UA para los cuatro sabores básicos. El grupo con restricción fue significativamente más sensible (Tb = -3,305; p = 0,001) al dulce (UA = 2 g/l) que el grupo sin restricción (UA = 5 g/l). La detección-identificación de la astringencia resultó significativamente mayor (t = -13,323; p = 0,000) con información previa del nombre (79,31%) que sin esta información (19,64%), confundiéndola, o describiéndola, como sabor amargo (80,36%). CONCLUSIONES: el aprendizaje del sabor se favorece cuando se realiza la medición psicofísica de los sentidos químicos junto a la formación de determinados conceptos teóricos sobre la percepción gustativa y denominación de sabores, al facilitar su proceso cognitivo posterior detección- identificación. También debe atenderse al proceso de homeostasis interna previa de los participantes por la variabilidad en los resultados de sus UA según las condiciones de hambre/saciedad anteriores a su estimación psicofísica.

Implicaciones cognitivas en la estimación psicofísica del sabor / Cognitive implications in the psychophysical estimation of taste

Introducción: en la percepción sensorial del gusto, los conceptos de umbral absoluto (UA), los métodos psicofísicos para estimarlo y la influencia que ejerce el conocimiento previo sobre su percepción y reconocimiento son de difícil aprendizaje por su escaso estado de conciencia. Objetivo: evaluar los umbrales de detección de los cuatros sabores básicos en una muestra de jóvenes sanos, en condiciones de restricción de alimentos/no-restricción, y analizar la influencia del conocimiento previo de la astringencia para su detección-identificación. Método: se puso en contacto directo con las sustancias químicas de los sabores y de astringencia a 114 participantes con media de 20,03 años (DT = 5.45), el 75,4% mujeres, mediante una degustación teórica-práctica. Se aplicó un diseño de tratamiento invertido con las condiciones experimentales sobre restricción de alimentos y conocimiento de astringencia. Resultados: todos identificaron sus UA para los cuatro sabores básicos. El grupo con restricción fue significativamente más sensible (Tb = -3,305; p = 0,001) al dulce (UA = 2 g/l) que el grupo sin restricción (UA = 5 g/l). La detección-identificación de la astringencia resultó significativamente mayor (t = -13,323; p = 0,000) con información previa del nombre (79,31%) que sin esta información (19,64%), confundiéndola, o describiéndola, como sabor amargo (80,36%). Conclusiones: el aprendizaje del sabor se favorece cuando se realiza la medición psicofísica de los sentidos químicos junto a la formación de determinados conceptos teóricos sobre la percepción gustativa y denominación de sabores, al facilitar su proceso cognitivo posterior detección-identificación. También debe atenderse al proceso de homeostasis interna previa de los participantes por la variabilidad en los resultados de sus UA según las condiciones de hambre/saciedad anteriores a su estimación psicofísica

Introduction: in sensory perception of taste, it is difficult to learn the concepts of absolute threshold (AT), the psychophysical methods to estimate it and the influence exerted by prior knowledge on their perception and recognition, because they have little awareness. Objective: to assess absolute thresholds of four basic flavors in a sample of healthy young people, in conditions of food restriction/without restriction, and to analyze the influence of prior knowledge of astringency in its detection-identification. Methods: one hundred and fourteen participants with an average of 20.03 years old (SD = 5.45), 75.4% of them women, were put in direct contact with chemical substances of basic flavors and astringency through a theoretical-practical tasting. An inverted treatment design was applied with experimental conditions on food restriction and knowledge of astringency. Results: all identified their AT for basic flavors. The group with restriction was significantly more sensitive (Tb = -3.305, p = 0.001) to sweet (AU = 2 g/l) than the group without restriction (AU = 5 g/l). The detection-identification of astringency was significantly higher (t = -13.323, p = 0.000) with previous information of the name (79.31%) than without this information (19.64%), confusing or describing it as bitter taste (80.36). Conclusion: taste learning is facilitated with the performance of psychophysical measurements of chemical senses, together with training of certain theoretical concepts about taste perception and flavor denomination, because it facilitates the cognitive process for detection-identification. In addition, the process for the previous internal homeostasis of participants must be considered as their AU results vary according to the hunger/satiety conditions prior to the psychophysical estimation

Age of onset of cannabis use and decision making under uncertainty.

OBJECTIVE: Cannabis, like other substances, negatively affects health, inducing respiratory problems and mental and cognitive alterations. Memory and learning disorders, as well as executive dysfunctions, are also neuropsychological disorders associated to cannabis use. Recent evidence reveals that cannabis use during adolescence may disrupt the normal development of the brain. This study is aimed to analyze possible differences between early-onset and late-onset cannabis consumers. METHOD: We used a task based on a card game with four decks and different programs of gains/losses. A total of 72 subjects (19 women; 53 men) participated in the study; they were selected through a purposive sampling and divided into three groups: early-onset consumers, late-onset consumers, and control (non-consumers). The task used was the "Cartas" program (computerized version based on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT)), with two versions: direct and inverse. The computational model "Prospect Valence Learning" (PVL) was applied in order to describe the decision according to four characteristics: utility, loss aversion, recency, and consistency. RESULTS: The results evidence worst performance in the IGT in the early-onset consumers as compared to late-onset consumers and control. Differences between groups were also found in the PVL computational model parameters, since the process of decision making of the early-onset consumers was more influenced by the magnitude of the gains-losses, and more determined by short-term results without loss aversion. CONCLUSIONS: Early onset cannabis use may involve decision-making problems, and therefore intervention programs are necessary in order to reduce the prevalence and delay the onset of cannabis use among teenagers.

Consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, inteligencia emocional y rendimiento académico en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios / Psychoactive substances consumption, emotional intelligence and academic performance in a university students simple

Introducción: El objetivo del presente estudio fue explorar la inteligencia emocional y el rendimiento académico en el alumnado universitario según su consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y comprobar si un desajuste emocional se asocia con un bajo rendimiento. Metodología: Participaron 150 estudiantes de psicología, que fueron separados en distintos grupos según el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en los últimos 30 días. Se evaluó inteligencia emocional, mediante el Trait Meta-Mood Scale, y el rendimiento, a través de las calificaciones académicas. Resultados: Los resultados evidencian diferencias significativas entre los grupos en las calificaciones, siendo los consumidores los que sacan puntuaciones más bajas. Además se observa una correlación negativa en los consumidores entre inteligencia emocional y rendimiento, es decir, los consumidores con un exceso de atención a sus emociones propias presentan peores calificaciones. Discusión: Se puede concluir que consumir sustancias psicoactivas se asocia con un peor rendimiento académico, y que la relación entre inteligencia emocional y calificaciones académicas es indirecta, mediada por el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to explore the emotional intelligence and academic performance in university students according to the consumption of psychoactive substances, and evaluate whether emotional disability is associated with low performance. Methodology: 150 psychology students participated in the study, and they were separated into different groups according to the consumption of psychoactive substances in the last 30 days. The emotional intelligence was assessed by the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, and the academic performance was evaluated by the academic results. Results: The results show significant differences between groups in the academic results, and particularly that consumers are less successful. In addition, a negative correlation is observed between emotional intelligence and academic performance in consumers, i.e., consumers having excessive attention to their own emotions get worse academic results. Discussion: It can be concluded that consumption of psychoactive substances is associated with poorer academic performance, and that the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic results is indirect, mediated by the consumption of psychoactive substances

Cognitive Mechanisms in Decision-Making in Patients With Mild Alzheimer Disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's dementia is characterized by significant cortical and subcortical atrophy, causing diverse neuropsychological deficits. According to the somatic marker hypothesis, the areas responsible for generating the somatic markers that anticipate the consequences of a decision and thereby optimize the process would be affected in these patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experiment is to study the decision-making processes in Alzheimer type dementia patients to determine potential deficits in these processes as a result of the disease, aside from the cognitive impairment that is typical of aging. In addition, we wish to determine the defining characteristics of decision-making in these patients, on the basis of the prospect valence-learning parameters. METHOD: We evaluated 30 patients with Alzheimer's disease and a control group of 30 healthy subjects. A short version of the Iowa Gambling Task was used. RESULTS: The results showed that patients made less advantageous choices than did controls. Group differences were quantitative and qualitative, as significant differences in cognitive mechanisms identified in the prospect valence-learning decisions were observed. These results are consistent with evidence from neuroimaging studies as well as with work carried out with amnesic patients. CONCLUSION: That problems in our patients' decision-making could be due to the characteristic memory deficits of this disease, which prevents them from establishing new stimulus-reward relationships and eliminating previously learned responses as a result of the parietal and temporal atrophy they present.

Hábitos de consumo de drogas y percepción sobre los efectos en salud y rendimiento académico en estudiantes de Psicología en la Universidad de Huelva / No disponible

El objetivo del trabajo es describir las prevalencias y las relaciones entre las diferentes drogas en estudiantes universitarios. Además conocer la percepción que tienen los estudiantes sobre los efectos de las drogas en el rendimiento académico y en la salud. La muestra está compuesta por 153 estudiantes de psicología de la Universidad de Huelva. Los datos de consumo y percepción se recogen mediante un cuestionario, anónimo y voluntario. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto que las sustancias más consumidas y de inicio más temprano son el alcohol, el tabaco y el cannabis, por tanto, se confirman las tendencias encontradas en jóvenes. Del mismo modo, se confirma el patrón de policonsumo en un 60,78% de la muestra. El consumo de tabaco se inicia antes que el del alcohol o cannabis, y cuanto antes se inicia en el consumo de tabaco, antes también se inicia en el consumo de otras sustancias. Según sean las sustancias combinadas, se hallan diferencias en la edad de inicio del alcohol y en la cantidad de cigarrillos de tabaco. Se comienza a consumir alcohol antes si los que beben también fuman. Los que fuman más cigarros son los que combinan el tabaco con alguna otra droga ilegal distinta al cannabis. Con respecto a la percepción sobre el efecto del consumo de drogas, aquellos que consumen alcohol, tabaco y cannabis, consideran que las drogas afectan menos al rendimiento académico que los no consumidores o consumidores dedrogas legales

The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and relationships between different drugs among college students, as well as getting to know the perception of students about the effects of drugs on academic performance and health. The sample consists of 153 psychology students from the University of Huelva. The consumption and perception data are collected by an anonymous and voluntary questionnaire. Our results show that the most widely-consumed substances with earliest onset are alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, thus confi rming the trends found in young people. Similarly,polyconsumption is confi rmed with a percentage of 60.78% of the sample. Tobacco consumption starts earlier than alcohol or cannabis, and the sooner people start to consume tobacco, the sooner the consumption of other substances starts. Depending on the substances combined, there are differences in the age of onset of alcohol and the quantity of tobacco cigarettes. Thus, if those who drink also smoke, theage of onset of alcohol use is earlier. Those who smoke most cigarettes are the ones who combine tobacco with any illegal drug other than cannabis. With regard to perception of the effect of drug use, students who use alcohol, cannabis and tobacco consider that drugs affect academic performance less than non-users or consumers of legal drugs

Mecanismos cognitivos en la toma de decisiones arriesgadas en consumidores de cannabis / Cognitive mechanisms in risky decisionmaking in cannabis users

Se exploraron las relaciones entre consumo de cannabis y los procesos de toma de decisiones. Se empleó una versión informática de la Iowa Gambling Task (programa Cartas) en sus versiones normal e inversa y se aplicó el modelo Prospect Valence Learning (PVL) que caracteriza el proceso de toma de decisiones en base a los parámetros: Recencia, Consistencia, Aversión a las pérdidas y Regla de utilidad. Participaron 73 consumidores de cannabis y 73 no consumidores como grupo control. En la versión normal el grupo control obtuvo mejores puntuaciones que los consumidores. Ambos grupos se mostraron consistentes y con aversión a las pérdidas. Los controles estuvieron más influenciados por la frecuencia de las ganancias-pérdidas, mientras que los consumidores por su magnitud. La influencia de las elecciones inmediatas fue mayor en consumidores que presentaron un olvido rápido mientras que en los controles fue gradual. En la versión inversa, la ejecución de la tarea fue mejor en los controles. Ambos grupos mostraron consistencia, aversión a las pérdidas, más influenciados por la magnitud de las pérdidas-ganancias y con baja influencia de las elecciones inmediatas. Los resultados mostraron las relaciones entre consumo de drogas y el proceso de toma de decisiones, en consonancia con los obtenidos en otros trabajos, donde consumidores presentan peores resultados que controles, además, los parámetros del PVL nos permitieron caracterizar adecuadamente la toma de decisiones. Esto confirma la relación entre el consumo de drogas y la toma de decisiones, bien por la vulnerabilidad previa al consumo, bien por la neurotoxicidad de la drogas

The relationship between the use of cannabis and the decision making processes was explored. A computerized version of the Iowa Gambling Task (Cards Software) in its normal and reverse version was used, and the Prospect Valence Learning (PVL) model, which characterize the process of decision-making based on the parameters: Recency, Consistency, Loss aversion and Utility shape, was applied. Seventy-three cannabis consumers and a control group with 73 non consumers participated in the study. In the normal mode, subjects in the control group scored higher than cannabis consumers. Both groups showed consistent responses and aversion to loss. Non consumers showed greater influence of the gain-loss frequency, while consumers were more influenced by the magnitude of the gain-loss. The influence of immediate choices was higher among consumers who showed a quick oblivion while in the control group this process was more gradual. In the reverse mode, task performance was better among control group participants. Both groups showed consistency, loss aversion, more influenced by the magnitude of the gain-loss, and low influence of immediate elections. The results show the relationship between drug use and the decision making processes, being consistent with the results obtained in other studies where consumers had worse results than control group. Moreover, the PVL parameters allow to adequately characterize decision-making. This confirms the relationship between drug use and decision-making by either the vulnerability prior to consumption or the neurotoxicity of drugs

Demencia tipo Alzheimer y toma de decisiones / Mild dementia of Alzheimer’s type and decision making

En este estudio se investiga la relación entre la toma de decisiones y la demencia tipo Alzheimer (DTA). Participaron 10 pacientes con DTA y 10 sujetos controles. Todos ellos realizaron la prueba Cartas (basada en la Iowa Gambling Task). La prueba Cartas evalúa la tendencia al riesgo, o Índice Gambling (IG), en situaciones de toma de decisión. Según la teoría del marcador somático, las personas con daño cerebral prefrontal y amigdalino presentan conductas de riesgo cuando realizan la prueba, debido a que tienen dificultades para experimentar las emociones y relacionarlas con experiencias pasadas. La gente sana desarrolla marcadores somáticos, mejora su conocimiento sobre las opciones de riesgo y prefiere las opciones ventajosas al final de la prueba. Los signos de deterioro inicial en la DTA se localizan principalmente en la amígdala y el hipocampo. Nos cuestionamos la relación entre los signos de deterioro inicial en la DTA y la toma de decisiones. Los resultados apuntaron a que los pacientes con DTA hacen elecciones al azar y que no desarrollan ninguna estrategia de elección a lo largo de la prueba. Estos resultados podrían relacionarse con el deterioro amigdalino y los déficits cognitivos. Por esto, evaluamos la relación entre los déficits cognitivos y el IG. En conclusión, los pacientes con DTA en estadios iniciales podrían tener dificultades para elegir en su vida diaria (tomar o no la medicación, comprar o no, administrar su dinero y patrimonio(AU)

This study examined the relationship between decision-making and dementia of Alzheimer’s type (DAT). Participants were 10 patients with DAT and 10 control partners. All of them completed the Playing Cards task (based on the Iowa Gambling Task). The Playing Cards task evaluates the risk tendency, or Gambling Index, in situations where decision-making is involved. According to the Somatic Marker Theory, persons with prefrontal and amygdala brain damage show risk behaviours while executing the task, because they have several difficulties in order to experiment emotions and also when they must link them with prior experiences. Healthy people experience the somatic marker, learn about risk options, and prefer the favourable options at the end of the task. The signs of early damage in DAT are mainly located in the amygdala cortex and in the hippocampus. This study calls into question the relationship between these signs of early damage in DAT and decisionmaking. The results suggest that DAT patients randomly choose, and that they do not develop any decision strategy through the task. These results could be in relation with the amygdala damage and cognitive deficit. For this reason, the relationship between cognitive deficit and Gambling Index was evaluated. To conclude, DAT patients in early stages of the disease could experience problems to choose in their everyday life: to choose to have or not to have their medication, to buy or not to buy to the door seller, to administrate their finances or heritage(AU)

[Decision making in cannabis users]. / Toma de decisiones en consumidores de cannabis.

Several neuropsychological studies have shown that chronic cannabis users have cognitive impairments, including decision-making process. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the process, through the somatic marker hypothesis in a sample of 41 cannabis users compared with a control group of equal size, and to analyze the influence of age, sex, education level, age of onset and amount of daily consumption. In order to do that, the software "Cartas" (similar to the Iowa Gambling Task), was used, implementing its two versions: normal and reverse. The results show significant differences between cannabis users and control group in the normal and reverse task execution. By block analysis, the control group obtained higher scores in the normal task execution, however, in the reverse task, the differences between groups are present in the initial task execution but not final task execution. None of the analyzed variables (age, sex ...) are significantly related to task performance. These results suggest the existence of alterations in the decision making process of consumers cannabis, which may relate to the difficulty in generating somatic markers, and not for insensitivity punishments insensitivity.

Toma de decisiones en consumidores de cannabis / Decision making in cannabis users

Diversos estudios neuropsicológicos han demostrado que los consumidores crónicos de cannabis presentan deterioros cognitivos, incluyendo el proceso de toma de decisiones. Por ello, el presente estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar dicho proceso, a través de la hipótesis del marcador somático, en una muestra de 41 consumidores de cannabis comparándolo con un grupo control de igual tamaño, así como analizarla influencia de la edad, sexo, nivel de estudios, edad de inicio y cantidad de consumo diario. Para ello, se ha utilizado el programa "Cartas" (similar a la Iowa Gambling Task), administrando dos versiones: normal e inversa. Los resultados muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los consumidores de cannabis y el grupo control en la ejecución de la tarea normal e inversa. En el análisis por bloques, el grupo control obtiene puntuaciones superiores en la ejecución de la tarea normal, sin embargo, en la tarea inversa, las diferencias entre ambos grupos se dan en la parte inicial pero no en la final. Ninguna de las variables analizadas (edad, sexo,...) se relaciona significativamente con el rendimiento de la tarea. Estos resultados sugieren la existencia de alteraciones en el proceso de toma de decisiones de los consumidores de cannabis, que pueden relacionarse con la dificultad para generar marcadores somáticos, y no con la insensibilidad a las pérdidas(AU)

Several neuropsychological studies have shown that chronic cannabis users have cognitive impairments, including decision-making process. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the process, through the somatic marker hypothesis in a sample of 41 cannabis users compared with a control group of equal size, and to analyze the influence of age, sex, education level, age of onset and amount of daily consumption. In order to do that, the software "Cartas" (similar to the Iowa Gambling Task),was used, implementing its two versions: normal and reverse. The results show significant differences between cannabis users and control group in the normal and reverse task execution. By block analysis, the control group obtained higher scores in the normal task execution, however, in the reverse task, the differences between groups are present in the initial task execution but not final task execution. None of the analyzed variables (age, sex ...) are significantly related to task performance. These results suggest the existence of alterations in the decision making process of consumers cannabis, which may relate to the difficulty in generating somatic markers, and not for insensitivity punishments insensitivity(AU)