Error related negativity and multi-source interference task in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-combined type / La negatividad relacionada al error en una tarea de interferencia multifuente en niños con trastorno por déficit de atención-hiperactividad tipo combinado

Objective To compare performance of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders-combined (ADHD-C) type with control children in multi-source interference task (MSIT) evaluated by means of error related negativity (ERN). Method We studied 12 children with ADHD-C type with a median age of 7 years, control children were age- and gender-matched. Children performed MSIT and simultaneous recording of ERN. Results We found no differences in MSIT parameters among groups. We found no differences in ERN variables between groups. We found a significant association of ERN amplitude with MSIT in children with ADHD-C type. Some correlation went in positive direction (frequency of hits and MSIT amplitude), and others in negative direction (frequency of errors and RT in MSIT). Conclusion Children with ADHD-C type exhibited a significant association between ERN amplitude with MSIT. These results underline participation of a cingulo-fronto-parietal network and could help in the comprehension of pathophysiological mechanisms of ADHD. .

Objetivo Comparar el rendimiento de un grupo de niños con trastorno por déficit de atención-hiperactividad de tipo combinado (TDAH-C), con niños controles, en la tarea de interferencia multi-fuente (TIMF), evaluado por la negatividad relacionada al error (NRE). Método Estudiamos 12 niños con TDAH-C con una mediana de 7 años, los controles estuvieron pareados por edad y género. Los niños realizaron la TIMF con registros simultáneos de NRE. Resultados No encontramos diferencias en los parámetros de la TIMF entre grupos. No encontramos diferencias en las variables de la NRE entre grupos. Encontramos asociaciones significativas entre la amplitud de la NRE en niños con TDAH-C. Una correlación fue en dirección positiva: (frecuencia de aciertos y amplitud de TIMF), y otras fueron en dirección negativa (frecuencia de errores y el tiempo de respuesta en la TIMF). Conclusión Los niños con TDAH-C presentan una asociación significativa entre la amplitud de la NRE con la TIMF. Los resultados sugieren la participación de la red cíngulo-fronto-parietal y pueden ayudar en la comprensión de los mecanismos fisiopatológicos del TDAH-C. .

Risk Factor Frequency for Learning Disabilities in Low Socioeconomic Level Preschool Children in Mexico City / Frequência de fatores de risco para dificuldade de aprendizagem em pré-escolares com baixo nível socioeconômico, na Cidade do México / Frecuencia de factores de riesgo para problemas de aprendizaje en preescolares de bajo nivel socioeconómico en la Ciudad de México

The objective was to identify the frequency of risk factors for Learning Disabilities (LD) in low socioeconomic level children in Mexico City. We studied children by means of: Wechsler, Bender-Gestalt, and Human drawing tests. Average age of male subjects was 5.6±0.9 years, while that of the female group was 5.4±0.5 years. In male subjects, average Total intelligence quotient (T-IQ) score was 98±12.2 while, in the female group, this was 99±12.2. On the Bender-Gestalt test, male subjects had a mental and visual-motor average age of <1 year under chronological age. Female subjects had a mental and visual-motor age 8-7 months under the norm. On the Human drawing test, in male and female subjects, the most frequent at-risk features comprised: self-isolation in 25 por cento of subjects, shyness in 22.4 por cento, and poor internal controls in 22 por cento. In conclusion, we found a high at-risk factor frequency for LD in children of low socioeconomic strata. We highlight the importance of screening children before they attain school age.

Este estudo objetivou identificar a frequência de fatores de risco para dificuldade de aprendizagem (DA) em crianças com baixo nível socioeconômico, na Cidade do México. A escala de inteligência Wechsler, desenho da figura humana e o teste gestáltico visomotor de Bender foram utilizados. A idade média do grupo masculino foi de 5,6±0,9 anos e do grupo feminino 5,4±0,5 anos. O quociente intelectual total (QI-T) foi de 98±12 no grupo masculino e 99±12,2 no grupo feminino. No teste de Bender, os meninos apresentaram idade mental e visomotora um ano abaixo da idade cronológica, enquanto que as meninas apresentaram idade mental e visomotora 7-8 meses abaixo do normal. As características de alto risco que apresentaram maior frequência, tanto nos meninos como nas meninas, no teste do desenho de figura humana, foram: autoisolamento 25 por cento, timidez 22,4 e controle interno deficiente 22 por cento. Concluindo, alta frequência de fatores de risco para DA foi encontrada em crianças de baixo nível socioeconômico. É importante destacar a importância de se identificar pré-escolares em risco de DA.

Nuestro objetivo fue identificar la frecuencia de factores de riesgo para problemas de aprendizaje (PA) en niños de bajo nivel socioeconómico de la Ciudad de México. Se utilizaron las pruebas de inteligencia de Wechsler, Gestáltica Visuomotora de Bender y del Dibujo de la figura humana. La edad promedio en el grupo masculino fue 5,6±0,9 años, del femenino fue 5,4±0,5. En los hombres, el cociente intelectual total (CI-T) fue 98±12,2, en mujeres fue 99±12,2. En la prueba de Bender, los hombres mostraron una edad mental y visuomotora un año menor que la cronológica, las mujeres tuvieron una edad mental y visuomotora 7-8 meses por debajo de la norma. En la Prueba de la figura humana, los hombres y mujeres mostraron mayor frecuencia de: auto-aislamiento 25 por ciento, timidez 22,4 por ciento y controles internos pobres 22 por ciento. En conclusión encontramos una alta frecuencia de factores de riesgo en preescolares de bajo nivel socioeconómico, destacamos la importancia de identificar a los preescolares propensos a tener problemas de aprendizaje (PA).

Thinner abuse alters peak of frequency of EEG spectra analyses / El abuso de tíner altera el pico de frecuencia del análisis espectral del EEG

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of the investigation was to use electroencephalography (EEG) to study whether long-term thinner abuse may result in the slowing, disorganization and asymmetry of the EEG cortical rhythms. METHOD: Twenty-two patients attending with antecedent of thinner abuse only, and twenty two controls without alcohol, smoking, and drug abuse in the same age range and gender were studied. EEG recording were compared by means of the analyses of peak of frequency (POF), frequency of disorganization, and asymmetry of the background activity in patients and controls at rest eyes-closed condition in electrodes P3, P4, O1, and O2. RESULTS: Significant differences in POF among groups was observed in P3 and P4 location showing lower values in thinner abusers, but not in O1 and O2 locations. Frequencies of disorganization and asymmetry showed significantly higher proportions in thinner abusers. Bivariate correlations among POF at the four electrode location and time of thinner abuse showed significant values. However after partial correlation calculation correcting for age, significant values disappeared. CONCLUSION: Thus thinner abuse relates with slowing of POF in the EEG of patients with thinner abuse associated with disorganization, and asymmetry depending on time of abuse.

OBJETIVO: Utilizar el electroencefalograma (EEG) para estudiar si el abuso o intoxicación crónica por tíner produce lentificación, desorganización y asimetría de la actividad eléctrica cortical. MÉTODO: Se estudiaron 22 pacientes con antecedentes de intoxicación crónica por tíner y 22 sujetos sin antecedentes de abuso de tíner, alcohol, cigarro o drogas en el mismo rango de edad y en igual número de acuerdo al género. Se registro el EEG cuantitativo y se compararon: el promedio del pico de frecuencia (PoF), la frecuencia de desorganización de la actividad de fondo y la presencia de asimetría inter-hemisférica en la condición de reposo físico y mental entre las regiones de los electrodos P3, P4, O1 y O2. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron diferencias significativas en el PoF entre los grupo estudiados en P3 y P4 observándose valores menores en el grupo con antecedente de intoxicación crónica con tíner, sin embargo estas diferencias no fueron observadas en O1 y O2. La frecuencia de desorganización y de asimetría fue mayor entre los pacientes con antecedente de intoxicación crónica con tíner. Las correlaciones bivariadas entre el PoF en las cuatro localizaciones y el tiempo de consumo de tíner mostraron valores significativos, sin embargo, cuando fueron corregidas por la edad desaparecieron. CONCLUSION: La intoxicación crónica por tíner se relaciona a una lentificación del PoF del EEG de estos pacientes asociada con desorganización y asimetría que dependen parcialmente del tiempo de consumo.

Characteristics of specific reading disability in children from a neuropsychological clinic in Mexico City

OBJECTIVE: This report describes the main clinical features associated with specific reading disability (RD) in a group of 778 school-age children studied in a Neuropsychological Clinic in Mexico City. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed retrospectively, using data abstracted from clinical records of subjects seen in 1995-1996. Children were mainly from low and middle economic strata and aged between 6 to 12 years. The following data were collected: age, gender, diagnosis, school grade, food intake, maternal complications during pregnancy, perinatal and postnatal neurological risk factors, and neurological signs and handedness. RESULTS: Subjects with RD had a mean age of 102.9 months, were predominantly male (male female ratio, 2:1). Among the study group, 49.1 of the children were diagnosed with RD of a visuo-sensory-motor type, and 75.1 were from early school years (1st to 3rd grades); 27.6 showed evidence of malnutrition. A previous history of language disorders (49.2), and a high frequency of perinatal risk factors and neurological soft signs were also found. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that variables such as gender, food intake, and genetic and neurological risk factors, were associated with reading disabilities in school children.

Cortical, brainstem and autonomic nervous system dysfunction in infants with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of central and autonomic dysfunction by means of electroencephalographic (EEG) and cardio-pneumographic recording (CPGR) in infants with Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus (PHH). METHODS: Nineteen infants with PHH were studied, born from October 1998 to January 2000. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by cephalic perimeter measurement and ultrasonographic study. Eight channel bipolar EEG and CPGR were performed after sleep deprivation, EEG features studied were: Temporal organization, symmetry, synchrony, frequency of normal and abnormal patterns. CPGR features studied were: Frequency of apnea and temporal organization by means of beat to beat variability. RESULTS: Averages of birth's age and weight, Apgar scores at one and five minutes, and cephalic perimeter showed lower values in PHH infants. PHH infants showed abnormalities in EEG and CPGR such as: Higher discontinuous activity (63), asymmetry (73), asynchrony (89), abnormal EEG patterns (89), apnea (26) and absence of heart rate variability (63). CONCLUSIONS: EEG and CPGR recordings are a useful tools in the examination of infants with PHH. These findings suggest cortical-subcortical, and brainstem dysfunction with severe encephalopathy and autonomic nervous dysfunction related to ventricular dilatation in infants with PHH.