Sleep spindle activity and psychotic experiences: Examining the mediating roles of attentional performance and perceptual distortions in a daytime nap study.

Decreased sleep spindle activity in individuals with psychotic disorders is well studied, but its contribution to psychotic symptom formation is not well understood. This study explored potential underlying mechanisms explaining the association between decreased sleep spindle activity and psychotic symptoms. To this end, we analysed the links between sleep spindle activity and psychotic experiences and probed for the mediating roles of attentional performance and perceptual distortions in a community sample of young adults (N = 70; 26.33 ± 4.84 years). Polysomnography was recorded during a 90-min daytime nap and duration, amplitude, and density from slow (10-13 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) spindles were extracted. Attentional performance was assessed via a test battery and with an antisaccadic eye movement task. Psychotic experiences (i.e., paranoid thoughts; hallucinatory experiences) and perceptual distortions (i.e., anomalous perceptions; sensory gating deficits) were assessed via self-report questionnaires. We conducted sequential mediation analyses with spindle activity as predictor, psychotic experiences as dependent variable, and attentional performance and perceptual distortions as mediators. We found reduced right central spindle amplitude to be associated with paranoid thoughts. Increased antisaccadic error rate was associated with anomalous perceptions and perceptual distortions were associated with psychotic experiences. We did not find significant mediation effects. The findings support the notion that reduced sleep spindle activity is involved in the formation of paranoid thoughts and that decreased antisaccadic performance is indicative of perceptual distortions as potential precursors for psychotic experiences. However, further research is needed to corroborate the proposed mediation hypothesis.

High-level aftereffects reveal the role of statistical features in visual shape encoding.

Visual shape perception is central to many everyday tasks, from object recognition to grasping and handling tools.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Yet how shape is encoded in the visual system remains poorly understood. Here, we probed shape representations using visual aftereffects-perceptual distortions that occur following extended exposure to a stimulus.11,12,13,14,15,16,17 Such effects are thought to be caused by adaptation in neural populations that encode both simple, low-level stimulus characteristics17,18,19,20 and more abstract, high-level object features.21,22,23 To tease these two contributions apart, we used machine-learning methods to synthesize novel shapes in a multidimensional shape space, derived from a large database of natural shapes.24 Stimuli were carefully selected such that low-level and high-level adaptation models made distinct predictions about the shapes that observers would perceive following adaptation. We found that adaptation along vector trajectories in the high-level shape space predicted shape aftereffects better than simple low-level processes. Our findings reveal the central role of high-level statistical features in the visual representation of shape. The findings also hint that human vision is attuned to the distribution of shapes experienced in the natural environment.

Introspective inference counteracts perceptual distortion.

Introspective agents can recognize the extent to which their internal perceptual experiences deviate from the actual states of the external world. This ability, also known as insight, is critically required for reality testing and is impaired in psychosis, yet little is known about its cognitive underpinnings. We develop a Bayesian modeling framework and a psychophysics paradigm to quantitatively characterize this type of insight while people experience a motion after-effect illusion. People can incorporate knowledge about the illusion into their decisions when judging the actual direction of a motion stimulus, compensating for the illusion (and often overcompensating). Furthermore, confidence, reaction-time, and pupil-dilation data all show signatures consistent with inferential adjustments in the Bayesian insight model. Our results suggest that people can question the veracity of what they see by making insightful inferences that incorporate introspective knowledge about internal distortions.

Transtornos alimentares: vivências de mulheres acima de 30 anos / Eating disorders: experiences of women aged over 30 years / Trastornos alimentarios: experiencias de mujeres de más de 30 años

O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender como mulheres adultas (acima de 30 anos) diagnosticadas com transtornos alimentares (TAs) vivenciam o adoecer. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, descritivo e exploratório, desenvolvido com base no referencial teórico-metodológico da Análise Fenomenológica Interpretativa (AFI). Participaram seis mulheres, com idades entre 34 e 65 anos, atendidas em um serviço especializado. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista aberta, de inspiração fenomenológica, na modalidade remota. As entrevistas foram audiogravadas, transcritas e analisadas seguindo os passos da AFI. Duas categorias temáticas foram identificadas: "Vivendo antes do adoecer" e "Encontrando-se doente." Constatou-se que os sintomas tiveram início anteriormente à vida adulta e que houve dificuldade na confirmação do diagnóstico. Na perspectiva das participantes, conviver com a sintomatologia ficou mais complicado em função de particularidades de manejo dos sintomas na vida adulta, e a idade é percebida como um fator que impacta e dificulta ainda mais a recuperação. As participantes relataram desesperança em relação ao futuro, apesar de a maioria reconhecer melhoras no quadro clínico ao longo do tempo e de valorizar a relação de confiança estabelecida com a equipe multiprofissional.(AU)

This study aimed to understand the experience of illness of adult women (over 30 years) diagnosed with eating disorders (ED). This is a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as theoretical and methodological framework. A sample of six women aged 34-64 years, assisted in a specialized service, were recruited to complete a phenomenological in-depth open interview. The data were remotely collected. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed following the IPA. Two thematic categories were identified: "Living before the illness" and "Finding about the illness." It was found that the symptoms started before adulthood and that there was difficulty establishing the diagnosis. Living with the symptoms became more complicated due to particularities of symptom management in adulthood and age is perceived as a factor that impacts recovery and makes it even more difficult. The participants reported hopelessness about the future, although most recognized improvements in the clinical condition over time and valued the trusting relationship they established with the multiprofessional team.(AU)

El objetivo de este estudio fue comprender las experiencias de las mujeres adultas (mayores de 30 años) diagnosticadas con trastornos alimentarios (TA) respecto a la enfermedad. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo, descriptivo y exploratorio, desarrollado a partir del marco teórico y metodológico del Análisis Fenomenológico Interpretativo (AFI). Participaron seis mujeres, con edades de entre 34 y 65 años, atendidas en un servicio especializado. Los datos se recogieron mediante entrevistas abiertas, de inspiración fenomenológica, en la modalidad a distancia. Las entrevistas fueron grabadas en audio, transcritas y analizadas siguiendo los pasos del AFI. Se identificaron dos categorías temáticas: "Vivir antes de enfermar" y "Encontrarse enfermo." Se constató que los síntomas comenzaron antes de la edad adulta y que hubo dificultades de establecer el diagnóstico. La convivencia con síntomas se complicó debido a las particularidades del manejo de los síntomas en la vida adulta y la edad se percibe como un factor que influye y dificulta aún más la recuperación. Los participantes manifestaron desesperanza sobre el futuro, aunque reconocieron mejoras en el cuadro clínico con el paso del tiempo y valoraron la relación de confianza establecida con el equipo multiprofesional.(AU)

Olhares e produções de saberes: narrativas da psicologia acerca das relações raciais / Gaze and knowledge production: psychology narratives about racial relations / Mirada y producción de saber: narrativas de la psicología sobre las relaciones raciales

Este artigo realiza um percurso histórico das narrativas teóricas construídas pelas elites intelectuais brancas brasileiras sobre as relações raciais no campo psicológico, bem como os efeitos desse processo no desenvolvimento da psicologia enquanto ciência e profissão. Como a maioria de profissionais da área é branca em um país cuja maioria da população é negra, torna-se cada vez mais urgente e necessário revisitar tanto as bases da psicologia acerca das relações raciais quanto o modo como essas relações se dão no cotidiano, com vistas a construir caminhos para pensar teoria e prática comprometidas com a igualdade racial. Nesse sentido, tecem-se considerações sobre as narrativas teóricas acerca das relações raciais no campo científico brasileiro, destacando o lugar da psicologia nesse percurso. Em seguida, discutem-se as relações entre as perspectivas da realidade social e das produções de saberes nesse campo. Ainda mais especificamente no campo da psicologia, evidenciam-se os paradigmas que orientaram os estudos sobre as relações raciais na área e, por fim, aponta-se um caminho possível para a construção de uma ciência psicológica compromissada com a igualdade racial.(AU)

This paper presents a historical overview of the theoretical narratives constructed by white Brazilian intellectual elites about race relations within psychology and its the effects on the development of Psychology as a science and a profession. As psychology professionals are white, whereas the majority of the population is black, it is increasingly urgent and necessary to revisit the foundations of psychology on everyday life racial relations, towards a theory and practice committed to racial equality. The text presents considerations on the theoretical narratives about race relations in the Brazilian scientific field, highlighting the role played by psychology. It then discusses the relations between social reality and knowledge production in this field. Regarding psychology specifically, it highlights the paradigms that guided studies on race relations in the field and proposes a possible way to develop a psychological science committed to racial equality.(AU)

Este trabajo realiza un recorrido histórico sobre las narrativas teóricas construidas por las élites intelectuales brasileñas blancas sobre las relaciones raciales en el campo de la Psicología, y los efectos de este proceso en el desarrollo de la psicología como ciencia y profesión. Como la mayoría de los profesionales en el área son blancos en un país donde la mayoría de la población es negra, es cada vez más urgente y necesario revisar los fundamentos de la psicología sobre las relaciones raciales, y cómo son estas relaciones en la vida cotidiana, para que podamos construir teoría y práctica comprometidas con la igualdad racial. Primero, se reflexionará sobre las narrativas teóricas de las relaciones raciales en este campo científico brasileño, destacando el lugar de la psicología en este camino. Luego, se discutirán las relaciones entre las perspectivas sobre la realidad social y la producción de conocimiento en este campo. Aún más específicamente en el campo de la psicología, se resaltarán los paradigmas que guiaron los estudios sobre las relaciones raciales en el área y, finalmente, se señalará un posible camino en la construcción de una ciencia psicológica comprometida con la igualdad racial.(AU)

Facilitatory Effect of Intermittent Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Perceptual Distortion of the Face.

Orofacial pain patients often report that the painful facial area is "swollen" without clinical signs - known as perceptual distortion (PD). The neuromodulatory effect of facilitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on PD in healthy individuals was investigated, to provide further support that the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) is involved in facial PD. Participants were allocated to active (n = 26) or sham (n = 26) rTMS group in this case-control study. PD was induced experimentally by injecting local anesthesia (LA) in the right infraorbital region. PD was measured at baseline, 6 min after LA, immediately, 20 and 40 min after rTMS. Intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) as active rTMS and sham rTMS was applied to the face representation area of SI at 10 min after LA. The magnitude of PD was compared between the groups. The magnitude of PD significantly increased immediately after iTBS compared with sham rTMS (P = .009). The PD was significantly higher immediately after iTBS compared to 6 min after LA (P = .004) in the active rTMS group, but not in the sham rTMS group (P = .054). iTBS applied to a somatotopic-relevant cortical region appears to facilitate facial PD further supporting the involvement of SI in the processing of one´s own face and PD. PERSPECTIVE: This study provides information on neural substrate responsible for processing of perceptual distortion of the face which is speculated to contribute to the chronification of orofacial pain. The findings of this study may aid in mechanism-based management of the condition in orofacial pain disorders and possibly other chronic pain states.

Perceptual distortion in virtual reality and its impact on dynamic postural control.

BACKGROUND: Voluntary movement such as lifting a foot in preparation to stepping acts as a self-initiated perturbation that disturbs postural equilibrium. To maintain and restore equilibrium, humans utilize early, anticipatory, and compensatory postural adjustments. Despite technological progress in accessible virtual reality (VR) devices, little is known on the usage of VR in control and maintenance of balance while standing. RESEARCH QUESTION: How does VR modulate early, anticipatory, and compensatory postural adjustments during a dynamic task of leg lifting while avoiding an obstacle? METHODS: First, the postural adjustments in a single-leg obstacle avoidance were compared between real and VR settings, where a statistical reanalysis was performed with data subsets that minimize the difference of foot elevation speed. Second, the effect of simple foot elevation was examined to identify the fundamental nature of leg lifting motion as a self-initiated perturbation. Lastly, perceptual distortion in VR was assessed by evaluating how the spatial scale of the virtual scene used in the single-leg obstacle avoidance experiment was recognized by participants. RESULTS: The VR setting reduced the activities of lower leg muscles on the supporting side not only in the compensatory phase but also in the preparatory early and anticipatory phases. On the other hand, simple foot elevation resulted in a significant increase of muscle activities with lifting height only found in the compensatory phase. Furthermore, it is suggested that the VR induced perceptual distortion in estimating the sizes of the virtual objects. SIGNIFICANCE: The findings provide more definitive evidence that VR presentation modulates the components of postural adjustments for maintaining upright stance while being perturbed. One of the potential psychophysical factors is perceptual distortion in VR, and this provides critical information for further development of VR based training system.

Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) Growth in Aging Ears with Clinically Normal Behavioral Thresholds.

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a devastating public health issue. To successfully address ARHL using existing and future treatments, it is imperative to detect the earliest signs of age-related auditory decline and understand the mechanisms driving it. Here, we explore early signs of age-related auditory decline by characterizing cochlear function in 199 ears aged 10-65 years, all of which had clinically defined normal hearing (i.e., behavioral thresholds ≤ 25 dB HL from .25 to 8 kHz bilaterally) and no history of noise exposure. We characterized cochlear function by measuring behavioral thresholds in two paradigms (traditional audiometric thresholds from .25 to 8 kHz and Békésy tracking thresholds from .125 to 20 kHz) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) growth functions at f2 = 2, 4, and 8 kHz. Behavioral thresholds through a standard clinical frequency range (up to 8 kHz) showed statistically, but not clinically, significant declines across increasing decades of life. In contrast, DPOAE growth measured in the same frequency range showed clear declines as early 30 years of age, particularly across moderate stimulus levels (L2 = 25-45 dB SPL). These substantial declines in DPOAE growth were not fully explained by differences in behavioral thresholds measured in the same frequency region. Additionally, high-frequency Békésy tracking thresholds above ~11.2 kHz showed frank declines with increasing age. Collectively, these results suggest that early age-related cochlear decline (1) begins as early as the third or fourth decade of life, (2) is greatest in the cochlear base but apparent through the length of the cochlear partition, (3) cannot be detected fully by traditional clinical measures, and (4) is likely due to a complex mix of etiologies.

Uma revisão integrativa da literatura sobre os erros de percepção sexual / An integrative review of the literature on sexual perception errors / Una revisión bibliográfica integradora sobre errores de percepción sexual

(AU)A Psicologia tem buscado compreender como ocorrem os processos de interesse e percepção sexual, contudo essa área ainda carece de estudos. Buscando compreender o estado da arte da área dos erros de percepção sexual, esta pesquisa realizou uma revisão integrativa da literatura utilizando o termo "sexual misperception" obtido do APA Thesaurus. Foram pesquisadas as bases PsycNet, Pubmed, Web of Science™, Lilacs, Wiley e Sage Journals. Foram obtidos, ao final dos processos de inclusão e exclusão, 19 artigos. Foi observada uma concentração das pesquisas nos Estados Unidos, com foco nas diferenças de gênero na percepção sexual. Outras variáveis investigadas estavam relacionadas ao consumo de álcool e comportamentos violentos. Os resultados apontam para poucas pesquisas realizadas nos contextos concretos e com elevada utilização de amostras WEIRD (ocidentais, com alto grau de alto escolaridade, de sociedades industrializadas, ricas e democráticas), as quais devem inspirar estudos em outras realidades. (AU)

Psychology tries to understand how the processes of sexual interest and perception occur however this area still needs further investigation. Focusing on understanding the state of the art in the field of ​​sexual perception errors, we carried out a systematic review of the literature using the term sexual misperception obtained from the APA Thesaurus. We reviewed the following databases; PsycNET, PubMed, Web of Science, Lilacs, Wiley, and Sage Journals. After the inclusion and exclusion processes, we obtained 19 articles. Most studies were performed in the United States, with a focus on gender differences in sexual perception. Other variables investigated were alcohol consumption and violent behavior. We identified a small number of studies carried out in real contexts, using exclusively WEIRD (white, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic) samples, which should inspire studies in other realities. (AU)

La psicología ha buscado comprender cómo ocurren los procesos de interés y percepción sexual, sin embargo, esta área aún carece de estudios. Buscando comprender el estado del arte en el campo de los errores de percepción sexual, esta investigación llevó a cabo una revisión integradora de la literatura, utilizando el término sexual misperception obtenido del APA Thesauros. Se realizaron búsquedas en las siguientes bases de datos: PsycNet, Pubmed, Web of Science ™, Lilacs, Wiley y Sage Journals. Al finalizar los procesos de inclusión y exclusión, se obtuvieron 19 artículos. Se observó una concentración de investigación en los Estados Unidos con enfoque en las diferencias de género en la percepción sexual. Otras variables investigadas fueron el consumo de alcohol y el comportamiento violento. Se identificó un pequeño número de investigaciones realizadas en contextos reales y con alto uso de muestras WEIRD (occidentales, con alto grado de educación, sociedades industrializadas, ricas y democráticas), que deberían inspirar estudios en otras realidades. (AU)

Anisotropic distortion in the perceived orientation of stimuli on the arm.

Mechanoreceptors on the skin are heterogeneously distributed, and the sampling of neural signals in the brain can vary depending on the part of the body. Therefore, it can be challenging for the brain to consistently represent stimuli applied to different body sites. Here, we report an example of a regional perceptual distortion of the tactile space. We used a piezoelectric braille display to examine shape perception on the volar surface of the arm and to compare it to that on the palm. We found that the orientation of perceived stimuli on the arm was distorted in certain areas. In particular, an inwardly-inclined line shape was perceived as being more inwardly-inclined than it actually was. On the other hand, an outwardly-inclined line was perceived accurately. When the same stimuli were applied to the palm, this anisotropic bias was not observed. We also found that changing the posture of the arm changed the angle at which this anisotropic distortion occurred, suggesting the influence of the skin frame of reference on this illusion. This study showed a clear example of how the representation of even simple stimuli is complexly distinct when the stimuli are applied to different body sites.

Mental health of people with distorted body weight perception using medicinal remedies: A representative study / Salud mental de personas con percepción distorsionada del peso que usan remedios medicinales: un estudio representativo

We aimed to examine the prevalence of distorted body weight perception (BWP) and the choice of weight control strategies to investigate the associations between the psychological features and the different strategies for controlling body weight. Method: We used a representative nationwide 39-item survey to randomly select 1,000 participants. The extrapolated number (eN) to the whole national population was also reported. Self-BWP, weight control strategies, and obesity-related psychological conditions including anxiety, self-esteem, body satisfaction, obesity-related quality-of-life (QoL), and eating attitudes were assessed. Results: Among men, 39.30% (eN = 5,887,137) underestimated, whereas 24.90% (eN = 3,290,847) of women overestimated their weight. In contrast to 2% (eN = 271,745) of men, 15.20% (eN = 2,012,262) of women sought medical support to control their weight. Men and women who used medical support for weight management and women who overestimated their weight reported the most unfavorable psychological conditions (anxiety, self-esteem, body satisfaction, QoL, and eating attitudes; p < .05). Conclusions: A prevalent burden of psychological problems related to distorted BWP and weight control strategies was revealed. People with distorted BWP and using medical procedures for their weight control could be at a higher risk of psychological disorders. Therefore, body weight-related psychological problems call for urgent public health policies. (AU)

Examinar la prevalencia de percepción distorsionada del peso corporal (BWP) y elección de estrategias de control de peso para investigar asociaciones entre características psicológicas y diferentes estrategias para controlar el peso corporal. Método: Encuesta representativa de 39 ítems a nivel nacional para seleccionar al azar a 1,000 participantes. Se informó número extrapolado (eN) a toda la población nacional. Se evaluaron auto-BWP, estrategias de control de peso y condiciones psicológicas relacionadas con obesidad, ansiedad, autoestima, satisfacción corporal, calidad de vida (QoL) relacionada con la obesidad y actitudes alimentarias. Resultados: Entre los hombres, el 39,30% (eN = 5,887,137) subestimó, mientras que el 24,90% (eN = 3,290,847) de mujeres sobreestimó su peso. A diferencia del 2% (eN = 271,745) de los hombres, el 15,20% (eN = 2,012,262) de mujeres buscó apoyo médico para controlar su peso. Hombres y mujeres que utilizaron apoyo médico para el control de peso y mujeres que sobreestimaron su peso informaron condiciones psicológicas más desfavorables (ansiedad, autoestima, satisfacción corporal, calidad de vida y actitudes alimentarias; p < 0,05). Conclusiones: Preponderancia de carga de problemas psicológicos relacionadas con BWP distorsionadas y estrategias para el control de peso. Personas con BWP distorsionadas usando procedimientos médicos para el control de peso podrían tener mayor riesgo de trastornos psicológicos. Problemas psicológicos relacionados con peso corporal exigen políticas de salud pública. (AU)

Dynamic arm movements attenuate the perceptual distortion of visual vertical induced during prolonged whole-body tilt.

Concurrent body movements have been shown to enhance the accuracy of spatial judgment, but it remains unclear whether they also contribute to perceptual estimates of gravitational space not involving body movements. To address this, we evaluated the effects of static or dynamic arm movements during prolonged whole-body tilt on the subsequent perceptual estimates of visual or postural vertical. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to continuously perform static or dynamic arm movements during prolonged tilt, and we assessed their effects on the prolonged tilt-induced shifts of subjective visual vertical (SVV) at a tilted position (during-tilt session) or near upright (post-tilt session). In Experiment 2, we evaluated how static or dynamic arm movements during prolonged tilt subsequently affected the subjective postural vertical (SPV). In Experiment 1, we observed that the SVV was significantly shifted toward the direction of prolonged tilt in both sessions. The SVV shifts decreased when performing dynamic arm movements in the during-tilt session, but not in the post-tilt session. In Experiment 2, as well as SVV, the SPV was shifted toward the direction of prolonged tilt, but it was not significantly attenuated by the performance of static or dynamic arm movements. The results of the during-tilt session suggest that the central nervous system utilizes additional information generated by dynamic body movements for perceptual estimates of visual vertical.

Zulliger R-Optimized Application in Children Victims of Sexual Violence and Cancer / Zulliger Aplicação R-Otimizada em Crianças Vítimas de Violência Sexual e com Câncer / Aplicación R-Optimizada de Zulliger en Niños Víctimas de Violencia Sexual y Cáncer

Abstract Child sexual violence can cause serious damage to the psychosocial development of its victims. Assessments in this context require the use of several psychological tests with proven validity for this purpose. This study aimed to assess children victims of sexual violence using the Zulliger R-Optimized application. The sample consisted of 37 children of both sexes, aged from seven to 13 years old (M = 10.92), distributed in three groups: Sexual Violence Victims (SVV), Cancer Patients (CP) and the Non-Victim Group (NVG). The statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whiney and one-way ANOVA tests. The Zulliger variables concerning the clusters Interpersonal Relationship (GHR, PHR, GHR:PHR, p), Self-Image (MOR) and Processing (W:M) showed statistical differences when the SVV group was compared to the other groups. The Zulliger R-Optimized application shows promising results in assessing SVV children, indicating its usefulness for assessments in this context.

Resumo A violência sexual infantil pode gerar graves prejuízos para o desenvolvimento psicossocial de suas vítimas. As avaliações nesse contexto requerem o uso de vários testes psicológicos que possuem evidências de validade para este fim. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar crianças vítimas de violência sexual com o Zulliger aplicação R-Otimizada. A amostra consistiu em 37 crianças com idade entre 7 e 13 anos (M = 10,92), de ambos os sexos, distribuídas em três grupos: Vítimas de Violência Sexual (VVS), Pacientes com Câncer (PC) e Grupo de Não-Vítimas (GNV). Realizou-se tratamento estatístico por meio dos testes Mann-Whiney e Anova de uma via. Variáveis do Zulliger concernentes aos agrupamentos de Relacionamento Interpessoal (GHR, PHR, GHR:PHR, p), Autoimagem (MOR) e Processamento (W:M) apresentaram diferenças estatísticas quando o grupo VVS foi comparado aos outros grupos. O Zulliger aplicação R-Otimizada apresenta resultados promissores na avaliação de crianças VVS, indicando sua utilidade em avaliações desse contexto.

Resumen La violencia sexual infantil puede causar daños al desarrollo psicosocial de las víctimas. Evaluaciones en este contexto requieren uso de exámenes psicológicos que tienen evidencia de validez para este propósito. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar niños víctimas de violencia sexual con lo Zulliger aplicación R-Optimizada. La muestra consistió en 37 niños de 7 a 13 años (M = 10.92), ambos sexos, distribuidos en tres grupos: Víctimas de Violencia Sexual (VVS), Pacientes con Cáncer (PC) y Grupo de No-Víctimas (GNV). El tratamiento estadístico se realizó utilizando las pruebas de Mann-Whiney y Anova de una vía. Variables de Zulliger para las agrupaciones de Relaciones Interpersonales (GHR, PHR, GHR:PHR, p), Autoimagen (MOR) y Procesamiento (W:M) mostraron diferencias estadísticas cuando el grupo VVS se comparó con los otros grupos. Zulliger aplicación R-Optimizada muestra resultados prometedores en la evaluación de niños VVS que indican su usabilidad en las evaluaciones en este contexto.

Vision: Face-Centered Representations in the Brain.

A longstanding debate in the face recognition field concerns the format of face representations in the brain. New face research clarifies some of this mystery by revealing a face-centered format in a patient with a left splenium lesion of the corpus callosum who perceives the right side of faces as 'melted'.

Moving in unison after perceptual interruption.

Humans interact in groups through various perception and action channels. The continuity of interaction despite a transient loss of perceptual contact often exists and contributes to goal achievement. Here, we study the dynamics of this continuity, in two experiments involving groups of participants ([Formula: see text]) synchronizing their movements in space and in time. We show that behavioural unison can be maintained after perceptual contact has been lost, for about 7s. Agent similarity and spatial configuration in the group modulated synchronization performance, differently so when perceptual interaction was present or when it was memorized. Modelling these data through a network of oscillators enabled us to clarify the double origin of this memory effect, of individual and social nature. These results shed new light into why humans continue to move in unison after perceptual interruption, and are consequential for a wide variety of applications at work, in art and in sport.

Face-Specific Perceptual Distortions Reveal A View- and Orientation-Independent Face Template.

The spatial coordinate system in which a stimulus representation is embedded is known as its reference frame. Every visual representation has a reference frame [1], and the visual system uses a variety of reference frames to efficiently code visual information [e.g., 1-5]. The representation of faces in early stages of visual processing depends on retino-centered reference frames, but little is known about the reference frames that code the high-level representations used to make judgements about faces. Here, we focus on a rare and striking disorder of face perception-hemi-prosopometamorphopsia (hemi-PMO)-to investigate these reference frames. After a left splenium lesion, Patient A.D. perceives features on the right side of faces as if they had melted. The same features were distorted when faces were presented in either visual field, at different in-depth rotations, and at different picture-plane orientations including upside-down. A.D.'s results indicate faces are aligned to a view- and orientation-independent face template encoded in a face-centered reference frame, that these face-centered representations are present in both the left and right hemisphere, and that the representations of the left and right halves of a face are dissociable.

Models for discriminating image blur from loss of contrast.

Observers can discriminate between blurry and low-contrast images (Morgan, 2017). Wang and Simoncelli (2004) demonstrated that a code for blur is inherent to the phase relationships between localized pattern detectors of different scales. To test whether human observers actually use local phase coherence when discriminating between image blur and loss of contrast, we compared phase-scrambled chessboards with unscrambled chessboards. Although both stimuli had identical amplitude spectra, local phase coherence was disrupted by phase-scrambling. Human observers were required to concurrently detect and identify (as contrast or blur) image manipulations in the 2 × 2 forced-choice paradigm (Nachmias & Weber, 1975; Watson & Robson, 1981) traditionally considered to be a litmus test for "labelled lines" (i.e. detection mechanisms that can be distinguished on the basis of their preferred stimuli). Phase scrambling reduced some observers' ability to discriminate between blur and a reduction in contrast. However, none of our observers produced data consistent with Watson and Robson's most stringent test for labeled lines, regardless whether phases were scrambled or not. Models of performance fit significantly better when (a) the blur detector also responded to contrast modulations, (b) the contrast detector also responded to blur modulations, or (c) noise in the two detectors was anticorrelated.

Concordancia entre percepción de la imagen corporal y estado nutricional real en estudiantes de la carrera de nutrición de universidades privadas de Asunción / Concordance between perception of body image and real nutritional status in students of the nutrition career of private universities in Asunción

Introducción: La alteración en la percepción de la imagen corporal es una característica de ciertos trastornos de la conducta alimentaria. Entre los grupos de riesgo se encuentran los estudiantes de nutrición. Objetivo: Determinar la concordancia entre el estado nutricional real y la percepción de la imagen corporal de estudiantes de primer y segundo año de la carrera de nutrición de universidades privadas de Asunción en agosto de 2019. Método: En un estudio analítico de correlación, se incluyeron 97 estudiantes por muestreo no probabilístico. Se empleó un cuestionario autoadministrado de datos sociodemográficos, el estado nutricional real se determinó por el Índice de Masa Corporal y la percepción de la imagen corporal por la escala de siluetas de Stunkard. Se consideró distorsión de la imagen corporal cuando la diferencia entre el IMC real y el percibido estuvo por encima o debajo de -2 y +2; para las asociaciones entre variables se consideró un valor p<0,05 como significancia estadística. Resultados: El estado nutricional real fue normal en el 68% y el 36% tuvo distorsión de su imagen corporal. La concordancia entre el estado nutricional real y la percepción de imagen corporal fue moderada (Kappa 0,491); la discrepancia entre el IMC real y el percibido fue mayor en quienes presentaron bajo peso y exceso de peso. Conclusión: Los estudiantes con bajo peso sobrestimaron su peso lo que podrían ponerlos en riesgo de algún trastorno de la conducta alimentaria y quienes subestimaron su peso son pasibles de padecer obesidad por no dimensionarlo como un problema.

Background: Alteration in the perception of body image is a characteristic of certain eating disorders. Among the risk groups, students of nutrition career are found. Objective: to determine the concordance between the actual nutritional status and the perception of the body image of first and second year students of the nutrition career of private universities in Asunción in August 2019. In an analytical correlation study, a non-probabilistic sample of 97 students was included. A self-administered questionnaire that included sociodemographic data was used; actual nutritional status was determined by Body Mass Index and perception of body image by the Stunkard silhouettes scale. Distortion of the body image was considered when between the real and the perceived BMI it was above or below -2 and +2; for association between variables a p value of <0.05 was considered statistical significant. Results: Real nutritional status was normal in 68% of the students; 36% presented distortion of their body image. Concordance between the actual nutritional status and the perception of body image was moderate (Kappa 0.491). Discrepancy between real nutritional status and perceived body image was higher in those who presented underweight and overweight. Conclusion: Students with underweight overestimated their weight which it could put them at risk of some eating disorder, and those who underestimated their weight are likely to suffer obesity for not dimensioning it as a problem.

Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on altered perception of One's own face.

BACKGROUND: Chronic orofacial pain (COP) patients often perceive the painful face area as "swollen" without clinical signs; such self-reported illusions of the face are termed perceptual distortion (PD). The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PD remain elusive. OBJECTIVE: To test the neuromodulatory effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on PD in healthy individuals, to gain insight into the cortical mechanisms underlying PD. METHODS: PD was induced experimentally by injections of local anesthetic (LA) around the infraorbital nerve and measured as perceived size changes of the affected area. Participants were randomly allocated to inhibitory rTMS (n = 26) or sham rTMS (n = 26) group. The participants rated PD at baseline, 6 min after LA, immediately, 20 and 40 min after rTMS. The rTMS (inhibitory and sham) was applied to face (lip) representation area of primary somatosensory cortex (SI) as an intervention at 10 min after the LA, when the magnitude of PD is large. As inhibitory rTMS, continuous theta-burst stimulation paradigm (50 Hz) for 40s was employed to inhibit cortical activity. RESULTS: We demonstrated a significant decrease in the magnitude of PD immediately and 20 min after the application of inhibitory rTMS compared with sham rTMS (P < 0.006). In two control experiments, we also showed that peripheral muscle stimulation and stimulation of a cortical region other than the lip representation area had no effect on the magnitude of the PD. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibitory rTMS applied to a somatotopical-relevant cortical region modulates PD of the face in healthy individuals and could potentially have therapeutic implications for COP patients.