The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on emotional state among older adults in Latin America

In Latin America, the volume of care of infected patients, higher presence of comorbidities among older adults, and restricted access to clinical controls have become this age group into one with the highest risk (Dubey etal., 2020). Under confinement circumstances, older people can experience feelings of helplessness and uncertainty about the future, difficulties to stay focused, anxiety, stress, agitation, withdrawal, and depression (Armitage and Nellums, 2020; Wang etal., 2020). Accordingly, a Consortium of universities, research centers, and clinical centers have joined forces to carry out research which seeks to know the emotional state of Latin American older adults during confinement by Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The study included the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. Between April and May, we carry out the piloting of the evaluation protocol, making cultural and linguistic adaptations. Later, between June and October, more than 7000 older adults were evaluated by telephone by an expert professional through filling out an online form. The protocol we used includes a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, information on confinement, lifestyles, and the abbreviated version of the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (Martínez de la Iglesia etal., 2020). Sociodemographic characteristics of the final sample (n = 5245) show that 34% are men and 66% are women, with an average age of 69.61 years (SD = 7.28). Average schooling was 10.99 years (SD = 5.85) depending on the country, and 16.7% were illiterate. The major racial pattern of the population is Latin American mestizo (55.1%) followed by white (39.4%), South American indigenous (1.5%), and African American subjects (1.2%). Seventy-seven percentage of the participants have a monthly income, from retirement (45.9%) or independent work (26.4%), and 85% live with their spouses or relatives. Regarding quarantine, 86.7% of the respondents stated that they complied with the confinement measures, with an average of 123.15 days (SD = 42.43) of quarantine, which varies by country. Our data analysis has revealed that 30.27% of the older adults exhibit emotional disturbances. In Mexico and Peru, we have observed the highest levels of geriatric depression (38.9% and 38.1%, respectively) and in Venezuela the lowest (21.35%). Regression analysis shows that more years of schooling (OR = 0.943; IC95%: 0.93–0.95), having an economic income (OR = 0.764; IC95%: 0.64–0.90) and being a Latin American mestizo (OR = 0.832, IC95%: 0.71–0.98) are associated with reduced risk of geriatric depression. On the other hand, being widowed (OR = 1.428; IC95%: 1.10–1.85) or separated (OR = 1.352; IC95%: 1.01–1.82), lived in Bolivia (OR = 1.805; IC95%: 1.31–2.48), Mexico (OR = 2.320; IC95%: 1.70–3.16), and Peru (OR = 2.008; IC95%: 1.45–2.78) are associated with highest risk. This first multicenter study found that emotional status of older adults during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Latin America varies depending on the country where they live and sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors. It is necessary for follow-up studies to validate diagnosis and analyze the greater risk of deterioration in the coming months

Cognitive changes in patients with epilepsy identified through the MoCA test during neurology outpatient consultation

Introduction Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that may occur alongside cognitive changes, with effects on multiple cognitive domains. Objective To compare the cognitive performance of patients with epilepsy and healthy controls through Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) during outpatient consultation at a reference diagnostic center in Colombia and analyze and the influencing factors. Materials and methodology One-hundred and four patients during neurology outpatient consultation in the city of Cartagena, Colombia, were assessed with the (MoCA) test, i.e., 54 people who consulted for headache and have not been diagnosed with epilepsy (NEP) and 50 with a diagnosis of epilepsy (EPs) according to the diagnostic criteria of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). Results Significant differences were found in the total mean scores of the (MoCA) between (EPs) and (NPE) groups (t = 4.72; p < 0.01), particularly in attention (t = 3.22; p < 0.02) and memory (t = 5.04; p < 0.01) dimensions. Additionally, a significant association was observed between years of schooling and (MoCA) scores (p = 0,019) but not between socioeconomic level (p = 0,510), age (p = 0,452) and the frequency of seizures (p = 0,471). Discussion Patients with epilepsy show lower scores in several cognitive domains in respect of the control group. The (MoCA) has proven its appropriateness for cognitive screening in the contexts of clinical neurology outpatient consultation

Cognitive changes in patients with epilepsy identified through the MoCA test during neurology outpatient consultation

Introduction: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that may occur alongside cognitive changes, with effects on multiple cognitive domains. Objective: To compare the cognitive performance of patients with epilepsy and healthy controls through Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) during outpatient consultation at a reference diagnostic center in Colombia and analyze and the influencing factors. Materials and methodology: One-hundred and four patients during neurology outpatient consultation in the city of Cartagena, Colombia, were assessed with the (MoCA) test, i.e., 54 people who consulted for headache and have not been diagnosed with epilepsy (NEP) and 50 with a diagnosis of epilepsy (EPs) according to the diagnostic criteria of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). Results: Significant differences were found in the total mean scores of the (MoCA) between (EPs) and (NPE) groups (t = 4.72; p < 0.01), particularly in attention (t = 3.22; p < 0.02) and memory (t = 5.04; p < 0.01) dimensions. Additionally, a significant association was observed between years of schooling and (MoCA) scores (p = 0,019) but not between socioeconomic level (p = 0,510), age (p = 0,452) and the frequency of seizures (p = 0,471). Discussion: Patients with epilepsy show lower scores in several cognitive domains in respect of the control group. The (MoCA) has proven its appropriateness for cognitive screening in the contexts of clinical neurology outpatient consultation

“Colmillos de sangre”: etnografías oníricas sobre las experiencias de ensoñación en jóvenes latinoamericanos residentes en la región de Los Lagos, Chile (2020-2023)

El articulo muestra reflexiones fenomenológicas a partir de una etnografía-narrativa sobre las experiencias de ensoñación que manifiestan jóvenes latinoamericanos residentes entre los años 2020-2023 en áreas urbanas de la región de Los Lagos, ciudades localizadas en la norpatagonia de Chile, a objeto de comprender las dimensiones culturales de la vida migrante y sus representaciones simbólicas asociadas con el mundo de los sueños. La metodología propuesta es, en un primer momento, pensada desde una etnografía especular que dialogaba con la interdisciplina, sobre todo en la elaboración de talleres participativos, los cuales permitieron la exploración del objeto de estudio desde las subjetividades como prácticas culturales que fueron narradas a través de la descripción densa. Los resultados muestran cómo las prácticas oníricas y las experiencias de ensoñación donde los sujetos interpretan sus experiencias vividas, se asociaban con la proyección de los significados migratorios en torno a sus estadías, deseos y demandas en Chile. Los aportes que hace este trabajo a los estudios migratorios son, precisamente, un tipo de conocimiento nuevo sobre las formas en las que los sujetos se relacionan e interaccionan en espacios de anclaje donde proyectan parte de sus experiencias basadas en el afrontamiento a los nuevos lugares de residencia, representaciones que bien pueden comprenderse como significados de la nostalgia, estados nerviosos y temores asociados con lo desconocido

Efectividad de una estrategia de intervención para fortalecer la resiliencia en estudiantes secundarios peruanos en la postpandemia

The school population was notoriously affected by the period of confinement due to the SARS-COV-19 pandemic, limiting their capacity for social interaction and compromising their mental health status. Objective: to analyze the efficacy of a technique as an intervention strategy in the development of resilience in post-pandemic secondary school students. Results: mean age 12.58 years (SD= 0.497), significant differences were found in all dimensions of the resilience test in favor of the experimental group (Resilience: t=20.085, p=000; Personal satisfaction: t=12. 677, p=000; Equanimity: t=9.008, p=000; Feeling good alone: t=10.774, p=000; Self-confidence: t=12.972, p=000; Perseverance: t=11.427, p=000), with very large effect sizes (d= 1.841 - 3.293).&nbsp; Significant improvement was obtained in the performance of the GE (Experimental group) versus the CG (control group). Conclusions: Comic books as an intervention strategy have a highly significant efficacy in the development of resilience in secondary education students in post covid-19 times.La población en etapa escolar fue notoriamente afectada por el periodo de confinamiento a causa de la pandemia SARS-COV-19, la que limitó su capacidad de interacción social y comprometió su estado de salud mental. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la eficacia del uso de historietas como estrategia de intervención en el desarrollo de la resiliencia en estudiantes de educación secundaria postpandemia. Se incluyeron 134 estudiantes, usando la escala de Wagnild y Young adaptada. En quienes la edad promedio fue de 12.58 años (DE= 0.497), se realizaron análisis de t student para comparar diferencias intragrupales (GE, GC), y d de cohen para medir el tamaño de efecto. Los resultados arrojaron diferencias significativas en todas dimensiones del test de resiliencia a favor del grupo experimental (resiliencia: t=20.085, p=000; satisfacción personal: t= 12.677, p= 000; ecuanimidad: t= 9.008, p= 000; sentirse bien solo: t=10.774, p=000; confianza en sí mismo: t=12.972, p=000; perseverancia: t=11.427, p= 000), con tamaños de efecto muy grandes (d= 1.841 - 3.293). Se concluye que las historietas como estrategia de intervención tienen una eficacia altamente significativa en el desarrollo de la resiliencia en estudiantes de educación secundaria en tiempos poscovid-19

Propiedades psicométricas de la escala de salud mental positiva en Arequipa (Perú)

La salud mental positiva es un constructo complejo que está relacionado con el funcionamiento óptimo de la persona. Comprende un conjunto de cualidades orientadas al desarrollo del potencial del individuo. La Escala de Salud Mental Positiva es uno de los instrumentos más utilizados para evaluarlo, sin embargo, los antecedentes señalan inconsistencias respecto a su estructura interna. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Salud Mental Positiva en Arequipa-Perú. Participaron 3933 personas, 50.3% fueron mujeres y 49.7% fueron varones, incluyendo desde adolescentes hasta adultos mayores. La evaluación mediante AFC de la estructura original evidenció índices de ajuste pobres, por lo que se tuvo que evaluar la dimensionalidad y proponer una nueva estructura. Para lo cual, se dividió a la muestra (n1 = 1966 y n2 = 1967). En la primera, se aplicó un AFE y en la segunda se valida mediante un AFC. Se hallaron tres factores y se concluye que tiene un buen ajuste (χ2(431) = 2473.378; CFI = .959; TLI = .956, RMSEA = .049; SRMR = .051). La consistencia interna mostró valores mayores a .81. Finalmente, se evaluó la equivalencia de la medición según el sexo, hallando que el instrumento presenta invarianza de la medición.Positive mental health is a complex construct that is related to the optimal functioning of the person. It comprises a set of qualities aimed at the development of the individual's potential. The Positive Mental Health Scale is one of the most used instruments to evaluate it, however, the antecedents indicate inconsistencies regarding its internal structure. The objective of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Positive Mental Health Scale in Arequipa-Peru. 3,933 people participated, 50.3% were women and 49.7% were men, including from adolescents to the elderly. The evaluation by CFA of the original structure showed poor fit indices, so the dimensionality had to be evaluated and a new structure had to be proposed. For which the sample is divided (n1 = 1,966 and n2 = 1,967). In the first, an EFA was applied and in the second, it is validated by means of a CFA. Three factors were found and it is concluded that it has a good fit (χ2 (431) = 2,473.378; CFI = .959; TLI = .956, RMSEA = .049; SRMR = .051). The internal consistency showed values ​​greater than .81. Finally, the equivalence of the measurement according to sex was evaluated, finding that the instrument presents measurement invariance

Factors associated with cognitive impairment in Latin American older adults: A cross‐sectional observational study of COVID‐19 confinement

INTRODUCTION: The effects of COVID-19 confinement have been severe, especially in older adults. Therefore, we analyzed the factors associated with cognitive impairment (CI) in Latin America (LA). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study with a total of 5245 older adults from 10 countries in LA. Measurement: We used the Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment (T-MoCA) and the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD8) scale. RESULTS: We found that age, depressive symptomatology, bone fractures, being widowed, having a family member with dementia, and unemployment were associated with an increased risk of CI. In contrast, higher education, hypertension with continuous treatment, quarantine, and keeping stimulating cognitive and physical activities were associated with a lower probability of CI. No significant association was found between suffering from diabetes or being retired and CI. DISCUSSION: It is essential to conduct follow-up studies on these factors, considering their relationship with CI and the duration of confinement

Efecto de la capacidad visoespacial en el rendimiento académico de estudiantes de anatomía médica

Visuospatial ability is associated with clinical skills in medical education, as it predicts the academic performance of anatomy students. Objective: To determine whether visuospatial processing generates changes in the teaching of medical anatomy and predicts academic performance in that subject. Methods: 140 students were evaluated at the beginning of the semester and before final exams with the Rey Complex Figure Test (CRFT).&nbsp; Student's t-tests were performed to contrast pre- and post-test differences, Cohen's d to measure effect size, and linear regression to evaluate prediction with final grades. Results: Mean age 20.22 years (SD=1.12), mean grade point average 4.96 (SD=1.20). Seventy percent of the students passed the course. The t-test reports significant differences of TFCR (Memory recall: t=-17.383; p&lt;0.001; Delayed recall: t=-16.547, p&lt;0.001) with a medium effect size (d=0.59 and d=0.56), respectively. The scores obtained in the post-test on the TFCR deferred recall task explained up to 90% of the students' academic performance. Conclusions: The instrument's deferred memory predicted academic performance and anatomy learning improved students' visuospatial function performance.La capacidad visoespacial se asocia con habilidades clínicas en la educación médica, ya que predice el desempeño académico de los estudiantes de anatomía. Objetivo: Determinar si el procesamiento visoespacial genera cambios en la enseñanza de la anatomía médica y predice el desempeño académico en esa asignatura. Método: 140 estudiantes evaluados al inicio de semestre y antes de exámenes finales con el Test de la Figura Compleja de Rey.  Se realizaron análisis t de Student para contrastar las diferencias pre y pos-test, d de Cohen para medir el tamaño de efecto y regresión lineal para evaluar la predicción con las notas finales. Resultados: Edad promedio 20.22 años (DE=1.12), media de calificaciones 4.96 (DE=1.20). El 70% de los estudiantes aprobó la asignatura. La prueba t reporta diferencias significativas del TFCR (Evocación de Memoria: t=-17.383; p&lt;0.001; Evocación diferida: t=-16.547, p&lt;0.001) con un tamaño del efecto mediano (d=0.59 y d=0.56), respectivamente. Las puntuaciones obtenidas en el post-test en la tarea de memoria diferida del TFCR, explicaron hasta en un 90% el desempeño académico de los estudiantes. Conclusiones: La memoria diferida del instrumento predijo el rendimiento académico y el aprendizaje de anatomía mejoró el desempeño en la función visoespacial de los estudiantes

Mémoire à long-terme de la douleur chez l’Homme : étude sur le conditionnement douloureux en Réalité Virtuelle Immersive

The experience of pain, most often lived as a traumatic incidence, can be memorized as such, thus favour potential chronicity of pain and influence the way future pain is perceived. In line with how a traumatic experience is memorized in association with its related environmental and emotional context, similar mechanisms may well appear in the case of pain. However, few studies focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms of long-term memorization (LTM) of pain. The first preliminary study of this PhD serves as introduction to investigate explicit memorization of pain, by focusing on short-term memory (STM) mechanisms using high-density electroencephalography (EEG). STM of a nociceptive stimulus was characterized by a focal alpha-activity enhancement, which progressed from bilateral occipital regions (cuneus and mid-occipital gyri) toward the right-superior and right mid-temporal gyri during the memorization phase. These results suggest that alpha oscillations, while indicating local inhibitory processes, can also indirectly reveal active stimulus-handling, including maintenance in short-term memory buffers, by objectivizing the filtering out of irrelevant and potentially disrupting inputs in brain regions engaged in internally-driven operations. The second and main study focuses on implicit memorization of pain: it aims to investigate how a contextually induced aversive stimulus (painful and non-painful) can modulate both the perception and the implicit content-memorization of its associated environment. A contextual aversive conditioning protocol was created by means of an “ecological” environment modelled in immersive Virtual Reality. The environment was a three-room apartment (kitchen, living-room, bathroom) each associated to a specific stimulus: either painful, an electrical tonic stimulation induced on the left-hand; non-painful, a set of aversive noises; or no stimulation, serving as control. Fifty-nine healthy volunteers have undergone the conditioning protocol: immersed subjects entered ten times each room in random order, during which the different stimuli were induced in their attributed context. Assessment of the environment’s perception was focused on valence attribution to each room using the self-assessment manikin scale. Implicit content-memorization was evaluated using a blurred picture paradigm (object-identification reaction time). Both evaluations were conducted at four time-points: pre-conditioning (valence only), post-conditioning, the next day and two weeks after. Behavioural results revealed that both aversive conditionings resulted in a valence decrease, in particular for the pain-conditioning-environment, which remained significant at long-term. Reaction time analysis showed a gender effect at every time-point: women identified pain-related-objects significantly faster than men, which translated in a quicker identification of the latter compared to non-painful- and control- associated objects exclusively for women. This suggests that overall aversiveness, specifically physical pain, can modulate at long-term the remembered perception of the context in which it was induced as well as the implicit memory of said context’s content.La douleur, pouvant être vécue et mémorisée comme un évènement traumatique, peut influencer les douleurs futures ainsi que favoriser le développement d’une douleur chronique. Au même titre qu’il existe dans la mémorisation d’un événement traumatique des associations fortes avec la mémorisation du contexte et les émotions associées à l’évènement, des mécanismes similaires sont susceptibles de survenir pour la douleur. Pourtant, peu d’études se focalisent sur la compréhension des mécanismes sous-tendant la mémorisation à long-terme de la douleur. La première étude préliminaire de ce projet de thèse vise à introduire la mémorisation explicite de la douleur, en se focalisant sur les processus de la mémoire à court-terme de la douleur par le biais d’électroencéphalographie (EEG) à haute densité. La mémoire à court-terme d’un stimulus nociceptif est associée à une augmentation focale des oscillations alpha, qui progressent de régions bilatérales occipitales (cuneus et gyrus occipital médian) vers les gyri supérieur droit et temporal médian pendant la phase de mémorisation. Ces résultats suggèrent que les oscillations alpha, bien qu’indicatrices de processus inhibiteurs, peuvent également refléter indirectement un traitement actif du stimulus, tel que le maintien temporaire des informations en mémoire, tout en filtrant celles qui sont non-pertinentes ou perturbatrices des régions cérébrales engagées dans des processus internes. La seconde et principale étude de cette thèse se concentre sur la mémoire implicite associée à la douleur : elle vise à étudier comment un conditionnement contextuel aversif (douloureux et non-douloureux) peut moduler la perception de l’environnement conditionné ainsi que la mémoire implicite de son contenu. Un protocole de conditionnement contextuel aversif a été réalisé avec un environnement « écologique » modélisé en Réalité Virtuelle immersive. L’environnement est un appartement à 3 pièces (cuisine, salle-de-bain et salon), chacune étant associée à un stimulus spécifique : (i) douloureux, une stimulation électrique et tonique induite sur la main gauche : (ii) non-douloureuse, des sons aversifs ; ou (iii) pas de stimulation, servant de contrôle. Cinquante-neuf sujets sains ont participé au protocole de conditionnement : les sujets immergés devaient entrer dix fois dans chacune des pièces, durant lesquels les différentes stimulations étaient délivrées en fonction de leur pièce attribuée. L’évaluation de la perception de l’environnement a été focalisée sur la valence attribuée à chaque pièce (mesurée avec l’échelle du Self-Assessment Manikin). La mémoire implicite du contenu de l’environnement a été mesurée avec un paradigme d’images floutées (temps de réaction d’identification d’objets). Ces mesures ont été faites à plusieurs instants : pré-conditionnement (valence uniquement), post-conditionnement, le jour-suivant et deux semaines plus tard. Les résultats comportementaux ont montré que les deux types de conditionnement aversif ont provoqué une diminution de la valence de la pièce associée, en particulier pour la condition douleur, jusqu’à deux semaines post-conditionnement. L’analyse des temps de réaction a révélé un effet genre à chaque instant de mesure : les femmes ont identifié plus rapidement les objets de la pièce douleur comparées aux hommes, ce qui s’est traduit en un temps de réaction significativement plus bas pour les objets de la pièce douleur comparé à celui des objets des pièces non-douleur et contrôle exclusivement chez les femmes. Ces résultats suggèrent que l’aversion, en particulier la douleur, peut moduler à long-terme la perception du contexte associé ainsi que la mémoire implicite de son contenu

Long-term Memory of pain in Humans : a pain conditioning study in immersive Virtual Reality

La douleur, pouvant être vécue et mémorisée comme un évènement traumatique, peut influencer les douleurs futures ainsi que favoriser le développement d’une douleur chronique. Au même titre qu’il existe dans la mémorisation d’un événement traumatique des associations fortes avec la mémorisation du contexte et les émotions associées à l’évènement, des mécanismes similaires sont susceptibles de survenir pour la douleur. Pourtant, peu d’études se focalisent sur la compréhension des mécanismes sous-tendant la mémorisation à long-terme de la douleur. La première étude préliminaire de ce projet de thèse vise à introduire la mémorisation explicite de la douleur, en se focalisant sur les processus de la mémoire à court-terme de la douleur par le biais d’électroencéphalographie (EEG) à haute densité. La mémoire à court-terme d’un stimulus nociceptif est associée à une augmentation focale des oscillations alpha, qui progressent de régions bilatérales occipitales (cuneus et gyrus occipital médian) vers les gyri supérieur droit et temporal médian pendant la phase de mémorisation. Ces résultats suggèrent que les oscillations alpha, bien qu’indicatrices de processus inhibiteurs, peuvent également refléter indirectement un traitement actif du stimulus, tel que le maintien temporaire des informations en mémoire, tout en filtrant celles qui sont non-pertinentes ou perturbatrices des régions cérébrales engagées dans des processus internes. La seconde et principale étude de cette thèse se concentre sur la mémoire implicite associée à la douleur : elle vise à étudier comment un conditionnement contextuel aversif (douloureux et non-douloureux) peut moduler la perception de l’environnement conditionné ainsi que la mémoire implicite de son contenu. Un protocole de conditionnement contextuel aversif a été réalisé avec un environnement « écologique » modélisé en Réalité Virtuelle immersive. L’environnement est un appartement à 3 pièces (cuisine, salle-de-bain et salon), chacune étant associée à un stimulus spécifique : (i) douloureux, une stimulation électrique et tonique induite sur la main gauche : (ii) non-douloureuse, des sons aversifs ; ou (iii) pas de stimulation, servant de contrôle. Cinquante-neuf sujets sains ont participé au protocole de conditionnement : les sujets immergés devaient entrer dix fois dans chacune des pièces, durant lesquels les différentes stimulations étaient délivrées en fonction de leur pièce attribuée. L’évaluation de la perception de l’environnement a été focalisée sur la valence attribuée à chaque pièce (mesurée avec l’échelle du Self-Assessment Manikin). La mémoire implicite du contenu de l’environnement a été mesurée avec un paradigme d’images floutées (temps de réaction d’identification d’objets). Ces mesures ont été faites à plusieurs instants : pré-conditionnement (valence uniquement), post-conditionnement, le jour-suivant et deux semaines plus tard. Les résultats comportementaux ont montré que les deux types de conditionnement aversif ont provoqué une diminution de la valence de la pièce associée, en particulier pour la condition douleur, jusqu’à deux semaines post-conditionnement. L’analyse des temps de réaction a révélé un effet genre à chaque instant de mesure : les femmes ont identifié plus rapidement les objets de la pièce douleur comparées aux hommes, ce qui s’est traduit en un temps de réaction significativement plus bas pour les objets de la pièce douleur comparé à celui des objets des pièces non-douleur et contrôle exclusivement chez les femmes. Ces résultats suggèrent que l’aversion, en particulier la douleur, peut moduler à long-terme la perception du contexte associé ainsi que la mémoire implicite de son contenu.The experience of pain, most often lived as a traumatic incidence, can be memorized as such, thus favour potential chronicity of pain and influence the way future pain is perceived. In line with how a traumatic experience is memorized in association with its related environmental and emotional context, similar mechanisms may well appear in the case of pain. However, few studies focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms of long-term memorization (LTM) of pain. The first preliminary study of this PhD serves as introduction to investigate explicit memorization of pain, by focusing on short-term memory (STM) mechanisms using high-density electroencephalography (EEG). STM of a nociceptive stimulus was characterized by a focal alpha-activity enhancement, which progressed from bilateral occipital regions (cuneus and mid-occipital gyri) toward the right-superior and right mid-temporal gyri during the memorization phase. These results suggest that alpha oscillations, while indicating local inhibitory processes, can also indirectly reveal active stimulus-handling, including maintenance in short-term memory buffers, by objectivizing the filtering out of irrelevant and potentially disrupting inputs in brain regions engaged in internally-driven operations. The second and main study focuses on implicit memorization of pain: it aims to investigate how a contextually induced aversive stimulus (painful and non-painful) can modulate both the perception and the implicit content-memorization of its associated environment. A contextual aversive conditioning protocol was created by means of an “ecological” environment modelled in immersive Virtual Reality. The environment was a three-room apartment (kitchen, living-room, bathroom) each associated to a specific stimulus: either painful, an electrical tonic stimulation induced on the left-hand; non-painful, a set of aversive noises; or no stimulation, serving as control. Fifty-nine healthy volunteers have undergone the conditioning protocol: immersed subjects entered ten times each room in random order, during which the different stimuli were induced in their attributed context. Assessment of the environment’s perception was focused on valence attribution to each room using the self-assessment manikin scale. Implicit content-memorization was evaluated using a blurred picture paradigm (object-identification reaction time). Both evaluations were conducted at four time-points: pre-conditioning (valence only), post-conditioning, the next day and two weeks after. Behavioural results revealed that both aversive conditionings resulted in a valence decrease, in particular for the pain-conditioning-environment, which remained significant at long-term. Reaction time analysis showed a gender effect at every time-point: women identified pain-related-objects significantly faster than men, which translated in a quicker identification of the latter compared to non-painful- and control- associated objects exclusively for women. This suggests that overall aversiveness, specifically physical pain, can modulate at long-term the remembered perception of the context in which it was induced as well as the implicit memory of said context’s content