Effect of tDCS Over the Right Inferior Parietal Lobule on Mind-Wandering Propensity

Mind-wandering is associated with switching our attention to internally directed thoughts and is by definition an intrinsic, self-generated cognitive function. Interestingly, previous research showed that it may be possible to modulate its propensity externally, with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting different regions in the default mode and executive control networks (ECNs). However, these studies used highly heterogeneous montages (targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the right inferior parietal lobule (IPL), or both concurrently), often showed contradicting results, and in many cases failed to replicate. Our study aimed to establish whether tDCS of the default mode network (DMN), via targeting the right IPL alone, could modulate mind-wandering propensity using a within-subjects double-blind, counterbalanced design. Participants completed sustained attention to response task (SART) interspersed with thought-probes to capture their subjective reports of mind-wandering before and after receiving anodal, cathodal, or sham tDCS over the right IPL (with the reference over the left cheek). We found evidence for the lack of an effect of stimulation on subjective reports of mind-wandering (JZS-BF01 = 5.19), as well as on performance on the SART task (errors (JZS-BF01 = 6.79) and reaction time (JZS-BF01 = 5.94). Overall, we failed to replicate previous reports of successful modulations of mind-wandering propensity with tDCS over the IPL, instead of providing evidence in support of the lack of an effect. This and other recent unsuccessful replications call into question whether it is indeed possible to externally modulate spontaneous or self-generated cognitive processes

The neural basis of external responsiveness in prolonged disorders of consciousness

Objective: To investigate the structural integrity of fibre tracts underlying overt motor behaviour in PDOC. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 15 PDOC patients and 22 healthy participants. Eight PDOC patients met the criteria for the vegetative state, 5 met the criteria for the minimally conscious state and 2 met the criteria for emerging from the minimally conscious state. We used fibre tractography to reconstruct the white matter fibres known to be involved in voluntary motor execution (i.e., those connecting thalamus with M1, M1 with cerebellum, and cerebellum with thalamus) and used fractional anisotropy (FA) as a measure of their integrity. Results: PDOC patients showed significantly reduced FA relative to controls on the fibres connecting thalamus and M1. This went above and beyond a widespread injury to the white matter and correlated with clinical severity. In a subset of patients, we also identified a similar pattern of injury in the fibres connecting M1 and cerebellum but a relative preservation of those connecting cerebellum and thalamus. Conclusions: Our results suggest that structural damage to motor fibres may lead to reduced responsiveness in PDOC patients across all diagnostic sub-categories, and therefore behavioural assessments may underestimate the level of retained cognitive function and awareness across the PDOC spectrum

Evaluación de la eficacia del Programa EMO-ACCIÓN de Educación Emocional para Educación Infantil

The effectiveness of the Emotional Education Program EMO-ACTION (EMO-ACCIÓN) in the development of emotional skills and emotional strategies is evaluated, as well as empathy and problemsolving skills among preschool students. A sample of 123 children were enrolled in the 2nd year of preschool education, aged between 4 and 5 years old. A design of repeated pre-test/post-test measurements was applied to an experimental group (60 children) and a control group (63 children). The Recognition, Regulation, Empathy and Problem-Solving Scale (RRER) was administered before and after the educational intervention. The results confi rm that the program had a positive impact on the development of emotional skills in the children that took part in it. A significant increase was noted in emotional recognition, in emotional regulation, and in the identification, and resolution of problems.Este trabajo evalúa la eficacia del Programa EMO-ACCIÓN de Educación Emocional en el desarrollo de las competencias y estrategias emocionales, y de las habilidades de empatía o de resolución de problemas en alumnado de Educación Infantil. La investigación cuenta con una muestra de 123 estudiantes de 2º curso de Educación Infantil de 4 y 5 años de edad. Se utiliza un diseño de medidas repetidas pre-test/post-test con grupos experimental (60 alumnos) y control (63 alumnos). Se administra antes y después de la intervención educativa la Escala de Reconocimiento, Regulación, Empatía y Resolución de Problemas (RRER). Los resultados obtenidos evidencian que el programa tiene un impacto positivo en el desarrollo de competencias emocionales en el alumnado de Educación Infantil que participa en el mismo. Se produce un incremento significativo en el reconocimiento emocional, en la regulación emocional y en la identificación y resolución de problemas

The dissociation between command following and communication in disorders of consciousness: An fMRI study in healthy subjects

Neuroimaging studies have identified a subgroup of patients with a Disorder of Consciousness (DOC) who, while being behaviorally non-responsive, are nevertheless able to follow commands by modulating their brain activity in motor imagery (MI) tasks. These techniques have even allowed for binary communication in a small number of DOC patients. However, the majority of patients who can follow commands are unable to use their responses to communicate. A similar dissociation between present command following (CF) and absent communication abilities has been reported in overt behavioral assessments. However, the neural correlates of this dissociation in both overt and covert modalities are unknown. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the neural mechanisms underlying CF and selection of responses for binary communication using either executed or imagined movements. Fifteen healthy participants executed or imagined two different types of arm movements that were either pre-determined by the experimenters (CF) or decided by them (action selection, AS). Action selection involved greater activity in high-level associative areas in frontal and parietal regions than CF. Additionally, motor execution (ME), as compared to MI, activated contralateral motor cortex, while the opposite contrast revealed activation in the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex and the left inferior frontal gyrus. Importantly, there was no interaction between the task (CF/AS) and modality (MI/ME). Our results suggest that the neural processes involved in following a motor command or selecting between two motor actions are not dependent on how the response is expressed (via ME/MI). They also suggest a potential neural basis for the distinction in cognitive abilities seen in DOC patients

Why use a mirror to assess visual pursuit in prolonged disorders of consciousness? Evidence from healthy control participants

Background: Evidence of reliable smooth visual pursuit is crucial for both diagnosis and prognosis in prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC). However, a mirror is more likely than an object to elicit evidence of smooth pursuit. Our objective was to identify the physiological and/or cognitive mechanism underlying the mirror benefit. Methods: We recorded eye-movements while healthy participants simultaneously completed a visual pursuit task and a cognitively demanding two-back task. We manipulated the stimulus to be pursued (two levels: mirror, ball) and the simultaneous cognitive load (pursuit only, pursuit plus two-back task) within subjects. Results: Pursuit of the reflected-own-face in the mirror was associated with briefer fixations that occurred less uniformly across the horizontal plane relative to object pursuit. Secondary task performance did not differ between pursuit stimuli. The secondary task also did not affect eye movement measures, nor did it interact with pursuit stimulus. Conclusions: Reflected-own-face pursuit is no less cognitively demanding than object pursuit, but it naturally elicits smoother eye movements (i.e. briefer pauses to fixate). A mirror therefore provides greater sensitivity to detect smooth visual pursuit in PDOC because the naturally smoother eye movements may be identified more confidently by the assessor

Validation of a nursing scale for assessing teachers' attitudes to diabetes care

Objetivo: Validar el Inventario de Actitudes Negativas del Profesorado hacia la Atención del Alumnado con Diabetes Mellitus tipo 1 (INAPAD) y estudiar su fiabilidad mediante los coeficientes Alfa de Cronbach y Omega de McDonald. Material y método: Este estudio describe el proceso de diseño y validación de la escala enfermera INAPAD en una muestra de 382 docentes en las etapas de Educación Infantil, Educación Primaria, Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, Bachillerato y Formación Profesional en una provincia española. El INAPAD pretende valorar diversas dimensiones actitudinales sobre la atención educativa al alumnado con Diabetes Mellitus tipo 1, incidiendo tanto en el perfil docente y profesional del profesorado, como en las características y necesidades específicas de este alumnado. Por su parte, la validez de constructo se ha evaluado mediante análisis factoriales exploratorios por componentes principales y rotación varimax. Resultados y Conclusión: Los resultados obtenidos informan de la viabilidad del INAPAD para ser utilizado como un instrumento útil para el diagnóstico del prejuicio o predisposición del profesorado hacia la atención del alumnado con DM tipo 1 y, por ende, para predecir el éxito de las medidas psicopedagógicas y los cuidados del niño y adolescente con diabetes.Objective: To validate the Inventory of Teachers' Negative Attitudes towards the Care of Students with Diabetes Mellitus type 1 (INAPAD) and to study its reliability using Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega coefficients. Methods: This study describes the design and validation process of the INAPAD nursing scale in a sample of 382 teachers in the stages of Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, Compulsory Secondary Education, Baccalaureate and Vocational Training in a Spanish province. In order to validate the INAPAD, its reliability has been studied using Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega Coefficients. Hence, the construct validity has been evaluated through exploratory factor analysis by principal components and varimax rotation. Results and conclusion: The findings obtained inform the viability of the INAPAD to be used as an effective instrument for the diagnosis of prejudice or predisposition of educators towards the care of learners with type 1 DM and for the prediction of the success of psycho-pedagogical measures and of the care for children and adolescents with diabetes

Familias transnacionales, familias inmigrantes: reflexiones sobre su inclusión en la escuela

El objetivo del presente artículo es describir el impacto que las migraciones tienen en las familias a través de una revisión bibliográfica sobre migración internacional como metodología de trabajo. Se examinaron artículos publicados entre 1998 y 2014 indexados en las bases de datos Web of Science y Scopus. Con el análisis de los artículos seleccionados se construyó un cuerpo teórico desde el cual se presentan los conceptos de familia transnacional, feminización de la migración mundial, concepción de la paternidad, fragmentación de la familia, reagrupación familiar, así como las principales dificultades de las familias migrantes en el país de destino que dan lugar a situaciones de exclusión de los padres y de las/los niñas/os en la escuela. Entre los resultados destaca que, aunque la separación geográfica pueda generar beneficios económicos, estas familias sufren una desestabilización que crea nuevas formas de funcionamiento para mantener sus vínculos y llevar a cabo el cuidado y la educación de los hijos desde la distancia. Como conclusiones se recogen reflexiones e investigaciones en torno a la inclusión de las/los niñas/os inmigrantes en el sistema educativo, y sobre la necesidad de un compromiso con sus familias para apoyarlas en el proceso educativo.In this paper, we describe the impact of migration in the families through a bibliographic review on international migration as our work methodology. We examined the papers published between 1998 and 2014 that are indexed in Web of Science and Scopus databases. A theoretical body was constructed from the analysis of the selected articles, from which we present the concepts of transnational family, feminization of global migration, conception of parenthood, family fragmentation, family regrouping, and the main difficulties of migrant families in the country of destination that lead to situations of exclusion of both parents and children in school. Although a geographical separation can generate economic benefits, these families suffer a destabilization that creates new ways of functioning in order to maintain their links and to carry out the care and education of the children from distance. As conclusions we collect some reflections and researches about the inclusion of immigrant children in the educational system, and about the need for a commitment with their families to support them in the educational process

Relationship between the anterior forebrain mesocircuit and the default mode network in the structural bases of disorders of consciousness

The specific neural bases of disorders of consciousness (DOC) are still not well understood. Some studies have suggested that functional and structural impairments in the default mode network may play a role in explaining these disorders. In contrast, others have proposed that dysfunctions in the anterior forebrain mesocircuit involving striatum, globus pallidus, and thalamus may be the main underlying mechanism. Here, we provide the first report of structural integrity of fiber tracts connecting the nodes of the mesocircuit and the default mode network in 8 patients with DOC. We found evidence of significant damage to subcortico-cortical and cortico-cortical fibers, which were more severe in vegetative state patients and correlated with clinical severity as determined by Coma Recovery Scale - Revised (CRS-R) scores. In contrast, fiber tracts interconnecting subcortical nodes were not significantly impaired. Lastly, we found significant damage in all fiber tracts connecting the precuneus with cortical and subcortical areas. Our results suggest a strong relationship between the default mode network - and most importantly the precuneus - and the anterior forebrain mesocircuit in the neural basis of the DOC