Relationships between Personality Traits and Brain Gray Matter Are Different in Risky and Non-risky Drivers

We would like to thank the support of the Andalusian Regional Government, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to the Brain, Behavior, and Health, scientific excellence unit (SC2), ref: SOMM17/6103/UGR. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness (PSI2016-80558-R) awarded to A.Ct. and a predoctoral fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (FPU18/03263) to L.M. We would also like to thank the professional English proofreader, yourenglishlab, for her work.Personality traits such as impulsivity or sensitivity to rewards and punishments have been associated with risky driving behavior, but it is still unclear how brain anatomy is related to these traits as a function of risky driving. In the present study, we explore the neuroanatomical basis of risky driving behavior and how the level of risk-taking influences the relationship between the traits of impulsivity and sensitivity to rewards and punishments and brain gray matter volume. One hundred forty-four participants with different risk-taking tendencies assessed by real-life driving situations underwent MRI. Personality traits were assessed with selfreport measures. We observed that the total gray matter volume varied as a function of risky driving tendencies, with higher risk individuals showing lower gray matter volumes. Similar results were found for volumes of brain areas involved in the reward and cognitive control networks, such as the frontotemporal, parietal, limbic, and cerebellar cortices. We have also shown that sensitivity to reward and punishment and impulsivity are differentially related to gray matter volumes as a function of risky driving tendencies. Highly risky individuals show lower absolute correlations with gray matter volumes than less risk-prone individuals. Taken together, our results show that risky drivers differ in the brain structure of the areas involved in reward processing, cognitive control, and behavioral modulation, which may lead to dysfunctional decision-making and riskier driving behavior.Andalusian Regional GovernmentEuropean Commission PSI2016-80558-RSpanish Government FPU18/03263 SOMM17/6103/UG

Risk proneness modulates the impact of impulsivity on brain functional connectivity

Impulsivity and sensation seeking are considered to be among the most important personality traits involved in risk-taking behavior. This study is focused on whether the association of these personality traits and brain functional connectivity depends on individuals' risk proneness. Risk proneness was assessed with the DOSPERT-30 scale and corroborated with performance in a motorcycle simulator. The associations of impulsivity- and sensation seeking-related traits with the between and within coupling of seven major brain functional networks, estimated from electroencefalograma (EEG) recordings, differ according to whether an individual is risk prone or not. In risk-prone individuals, (lack of) premeditation enhanced the coupling of the ventral attention and limbic networks. At the same time, emotion seeking increased the coupling of the frontoparietal network and the default mode networks (DMNs). Finally, (lack of) perseverance had a positive impact on the coupling of anterior temporal nodes of the limbic network whilst having a negative impact on some frontal nodes of the frontoparietal network and the DMNs. In general, the results suggest that the predisposition to behave riskily modulates the way in which impulsivity traits are linked to brain functionality, seemingly making the brain networks prepare for an immediate, automatic, and maladaptive response.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness, Grant/Award Number: PSI2016-80558-R; Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, Grant/Award Number: FPU14/05928; Andalusian Regional Government, Grant/Award Number: SOMM17/6103/UG

Rules of Causal Judgment: Mapping Statistical Information onto Causal Beliefs (Erratum)

Correction of erroneous signs in Equation 2 from: Perales, J.C., Catena, A., Cándido, A., & Maldonado, A. (2017). Rules of Causal Judgment: Mapping Statistical Information onto Causal Beliefs. In: M. Waldmann (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Causal Reasoning. (pp. 29-51). Oxford University Press. [Available at https://goo.gl/R2rQ4b].Universidad de Granada. Grupo de Investigación Aprendizaje, Emoción y Decisión (CTS176

El diazepan atenúa el efecto de contraste positivo sucesivo en el aprendizaje de evitación de un sentido

This study examined the influence of diazepam upon the successive positive contrast effect in one-way avoidance learning. The results showed that when injected with vehicle, a safety-time increment (from 1 to 30sec in the contrast group) during one-way avoidance learning led to a performance improvement, surpassing that of two control groups receiving the larger (30sec) or the lower (1sec) reward (safe time) from the beginning of training. However, when three similar groups were injected with diazepam, this contrast effect disappeared and learning was similar in all groups at the end of training. These results demonstrated a positive contrast effect in one-way avoidance learning and its attenuation by diazepam, bearing out previous findings about the joint influence of fear and relief upon acquisition and maintenance of the avoidance response. From an opponent process theory, the interaction between the motivational strength of fear and the incentive value of relief can explain not only positive and negative contrast effects, but also how anxiolytics attenuate both effects.Se analiza la influencia del diazepan en el contraste positivo sucesivo durante el aprendizaje de la tarea de evitación de un sentido. Los resultados mostraron que cuando se inyectaba a los animales “vehículo”, el incremento del tiempo en seguridad (de 1 a 30 seg en el grupo de contraste) durante el entrenamiento, generaba una mejora de la ejecución, que superaba la de los animales que recibían desde el principio sólo el reforzamiento mayor (30 seg) o el menor (1 seg). Cuando se inyectaba diacepam, ese efecto de contraste positivo se anulaba y la ejecución de los tres grupos (1-30, 1-1 y 30-30) era similar al final del entrenamiento. Los resultados muestran un claro efecto de contraste positivo y su atenuación por la acción del diazepan confirmando hallazgos previos sobre la influencia conjunta del miedo y la relajación en la adquisición y mantenimiento de la respuesta de evitación. A partir de la teoría emocional de los procesos oponentes, la interacción entre la fuerza motivacional del miedo y el valor de incentivo de la seguridad podría explicar los fenómenos de contraste positivo y negativo y su atenuación mediante ansiolíticos. Palabras clave : diazepan, contraste positivo, aprendizaje de evitaciónThis research was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología Grants to A. Cándido and A. Maldonado (BSO2003-03723) and to M.C. Torres (SEJ2004-03231/PSIC)

Differences between risk perception and risk-taking are related to impulsivity levels

Background Although there is broad agreement that perceived risks determine risk-taking behavior, previous research has shown that this association may not be as straightforward as expected. The main objective of this study was to investigate if the levels of impulsivity can explain part of these controversial findings. Method A total of 1579 participants (Mage = 23.06, from 18 to 60 years; 69.4% women) were assessed for levels of risk perception, risk-taking avoidance, and impulsivity. Results The results showed that while impulsivity was significantly and negatively related to both risk perception and risk-taking avoidance, the relationship with risk-taking avoidance was significantly stronger than with risk perception. The levels of impulsivity predicted risk-taking avoidance even when controlling for risk perception. Conclusions These findings indicate that impulsivity can differentially affect risk perception and risk-taking. We propose that the stronger influence of impulsivity on risk-taking is due to the greater reliance of risk-taking, compared with risk perception, on automatic processes guided by impulses and emotions.Regional Ministry of Economy and Knowledge, Junta de Andalucia UMA18-FEDERJA-13 EMERGIA20_0005

Cocaine dependent individuals and gamblers present different associative learning anomalies in feedback-driven decision making: a behavioral and ERP study

The research presented here has been funded by grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, MICINN (Spain), for Ana Torres and José C. Perales (ref. # PSI2009-13133), and Andrés Catena and Antonio Maldonado (ref. # PSI2009-12217); by a Junta de Andalucía (Spain) grant (ref. # PB09-SEJ4752) for Antonio Cándido: and by a RETICS (Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud) subprogramme grant (ref. # RD12/0028/0017) from the Ministerio de Sanidad, Políticas Sociales e Igualdad for José C. Perales. We would like to thank Proyecto Hombre’s Málaga and Granada centers, and AGRAJER (Asociación Granadina de Jugadores de Azar en Rehabilitación) for their invaluable and disinterested collaboration.Several recent studies have demonstrated that addicts behave less flexibly than healthy controls in the probabilistic reversal learning task (PRLT), in which participants must gradually learn to choose between a probably rewarded option and an improbably rewarded one, on the basis of corrective feedback, and in which preferences must adjust to abrupt reward contingency changes (reversals). In the present study, pathological gamblers (PG) and cocaine dependent individuals (CDI) showed different learning curves in the PRLT. PG also showed a reduced electroencephalographic response to feedback (Feedback-Related Negativity, FRN) when compared to controls. CDI’s FRN was not significantly different either from PG or from healthy controls. Additionally, according to Standardized Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography analysis, cortical activity in regions of interest (previously selected by virtue of their involvement in FRN generation in controls) strongly differed between CDI and PG. However, the nature of such anomalies varied within-groups across individuals. Cocaine use severity had a strong deleterious impact on the learning asymptote, whereas gambling intensity significantly increased reversal cost. These two effects have remained confounded in most previous studies, which can be hiding important associative learning differences between different populations of addicts.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, MICINN (Spain), for Ana Torres and José C. Perales (ref. # PSI2009-13133), and Andrés Catena and Antonio Maldonado (ref. # PSI2009-12217)Junta de Andalucía (Spain) grant (ref. # PB09-SEJ4752)RETICS (Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud) subprogramme grant (ref. # RD12/0028/0017) from the Ministerio de Sanidad, Políticas Sociales e Igualda

There Is More to Mindfulness Than Emotion Regulation: A Study on Brain Structural Networks

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness (PSI2016-80558-R to ACa); and a postdoctoral contract of the university of Granada (to SB).We would also like to thank the support of the Andalusian Regional Government, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to the Brain, Behavior, and Health, scientific excellence unit (SC2), ref: SOMM17/6103/UGR.Dispositional mindfulness and emotion regulation are two psychological constructs closely interrelated, and both appear to improve with the long-term practice of mindfulness meditation. These constructs appear to be related to subcortical, prefrontal, and posterior brain areas involved in emotional processing, cognitive control, self-awareness, and mind wandering. However, no studies have yet discerned the neural basis of dispositional mindfulness that are minimally associated with emotion regulation. In the present study, we use a novel brain structural network analysis approach to study the relationship between structural networks and dispositional mindfulness, measured with two different and widely used instruments [Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)], taking into account the effect of emotion regulation difficulties. We observed a number of different brain regions associated with the different scales and dimensions. The total score of FFMQ and MAAS overlap with the bilateral parahippocampal and fusiform gyri. Additionally, MAAS scores were related to the bilateral hippocampus and the FFMQ total score to the right insula and bilateral amygdala. These results indicate that, depending on the instrument used, the characteristics measured could differ and could also involve different brain systems. However, it seems that brain areas related to emotional reactivity and semantic processing are generally related to Dispositional or trait mindfulness (DM), regardless of the instrument used.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness PSI2016-80558-Runiversity of Granad

Emotional and non-emotional pathways to impulsive behavior and addiction

The research presented here has been funded by grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, MICINN (Spain), for Ana Torres/José C. Perales (ref. # PSI2009-13133), and Andrés Catena/Antonio Maldonado (ref. # PSI2009-12217); by a Junta de Andalucía (Spain) grant (ref. # PB09-SEJ4752) for Antonio Cándido: and by a RETICS (Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud) subprogramme grant (Ref. # RD12/0028/0017) from the Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad (Spain), for José C. Perales/Antonio Verdejo-García.Impulsivity is tightly linked to addiction. However, there are several pathways by means of which impulsive individuals are more prone to become addicts, or to suffer an addiction more intensely and for a longer period. One of those pathways involves an inadequate appraisal or regulation of positive and negative emotions, leading to lack of control over hazardous behaviors, and inappropriate decisions. In the present work, we assessed cocaine-dependent individuals (CDI; n = 20), pathological gamblers (PG; n = 21), and healthy controls (HC; n = 23) in trait impulsivity measures (UPPS-P model's dimensions), and decision-making tasks (Go/No-go; delay-discounting task). During the Go/No-go task, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded, and Go/No-go stimuli-evoked potentials (ERP) were extracted. Theory-driven ERP analyses focused on the No-go > Go difference in the N2 ERP. Our results show that negative urgency is one of the several psychological features that distinguish addicts from HC. Nevertheless, among the dimensions of trait impulsivity, negative urgency is unique at independently covarying with gambling over-pathologization in the PG sample. Cocaine-dependent individuals performed more poorly than gamblers in the Go/No-go task, and showed abnormal Go/No-go stimuli-evoked potentials. The difference between the No-go stimulus-evoked N2, and the Go one was attenuated by severity and intensity of chronic cocaine use. Emotional dimensions of impulsivity, however, did not influence Go/No-go performance.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, MICINN (Spain), for Ana Torres/José C. Perales (ref. # PSI2009-13133), and Andrés Catena/Antonio Maldonado (ref. # PSI2009-12217)Junta de Andalucía (Spain) grant (ref. # PB09-SEJ4752) for Antonio CándidoRETICS (Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud) subprogramme grant (Ref. # RD12/0028/0017) from the Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad (Spain), for José C. Perales/Antonio Verdejo-García

Validación de la versión española de la escala de toma de riesgos en dominios específicos (DOSPERT-30)

Background: The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a Spanish version of the short Domain-Specific Risk-Taking (DOSPERT-30) scale, measuring risk-taking behavior, risk perception, and expected beneficial consequences (from taking risks) in five life domains: ethics, finance, health/security, recreational, and social decisions. Method: The scale was back-translated, and administered online to 826 participants. Validity evidence was tested using correlations with construct-related instruments (UPPS-P and SSS-V), as well as using factor analysis. Internal consistency reliability was calculated with the ordinal Alpha coefficient, and gender differences were considered. Results: Internal consistency was good, and factor analysis confirmed the five factors proposed by the authors. With respect to the external validity, high correlations with the positive urgency and the sensation seeking subscales of the UPPS-P, as well as with the thrill and adventure seeking and disinhibition subscales of the SSS-V were found. Finally, gender differences were found in all subscales and domains, with men tending to take more risks, perceive less risk and expect more beneficial consequences, except for the social domain where an inverse pattern was found. Conclusions As these findings are in line with the original version, they indicate the scale was successfully adapted.Antecedentes: la escala de toma de riesgos en dominios específicos (DOSPERT-30) evalúa la propensión a comportamientos de riesgo, la percepción del riesgo y los beneficios esperados en 5 dominios (ética, finanzas, salud/seguridad, recreativo y social). El objetivo del presente estudio fue validar una versión española de esta escala. Método: tras realizar la adaptación mediante una traducción inversa se aplicó el cuestionario a 826 participantes. Se exploró la relación con otros instrumentos (UPPS-P y SSS) y la estructura interna para aportar evidencias de validez. Se calculó el coeficiente de fiabilidad ordinal para cada dimensión y diferencias de género fueron consideradas. Resultados: se obtuvieron índices adecuados de ajuste a una estructura pentafactorial. Los coeficientes de fiabilidad para cada dimensión fueron adecuados. Con respecto a las evidencias de validez, se encontró relación con los factores de búsqueda de sensaciones y urgencia positiva (UPPS-P) y con búsqueda de emociones y desinhibición (SSS). Las diferencias de género mostraron que los hombres tomaron más riesgos, percibieron menos riesgo y esperaron más beneficios en todos los dominios, exceptuando el social, donde la relación fue inversa. Conclusiones: la versión española del DOSPERT-30 presenta buenas propiedades psicométricas y puede considerarse un buen instrumento para el estudio del comportamiento de riesgo.Contract grant sponsors Spanish Ministry of Innovation and Science (MICINN) PSI2012-39292 (A. Catena) and PSI2013-45055 (J.C. Perales); Spanish General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) SPIP2014-01341 (A. Cándido); Postdoctoral Fellowship from Junta de Andalucía (A. Megías); Predoctoral Fellowship from Spanish Ministry of Innovation and Science —PFU— (S. Baltruschat)

Historia de la RAMSA. 50º aniversario (1971-2021)

Libro conmemorativo de los 50 años de existencia de la Real Academia de Medicina de Salamanca, donde se recogen todas las actividades llevadas a cabo durante ese tiempo, los premios concedidos, los miembros elegidos, etc., así como se gestó su nacimiento en el contexto de la existencia de otras academias médicas.Universidad de Salamanc