Resting autonomic nervous system activity is unrelated to antisocial behaviour dimensions in adolescents: Cross-sectional findings from a European multi-centre study

Purpose: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning has long been studied in relation to antisocial behaviour, but relevant measures (heart rate, heart rate variability, pre-ejection period, respiration rate) have rarely been considered together. This study investigated the relationship between these measures and antisocial behaviour. Methods: Using a sample of 1010 youths with (47.8%) and without conduct disorder (52.2%) aged between 9 and 18. years (659 females, 351 males, mean age = 14.2. years, SD = 2.4), principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to various measures of psychopathology and antisocial behavior. Structural equation modelling was performed in order to test whether the ANS measures predicted PCA-dimensions. Cluster analysis was used in order to classify patterns of ANS activity. Analyses were performed separately for males/females and controlled for body-mass-index, age, caffeine use, cigarette smoking, sports, socioeconomic status, medication, cardiac problems. Results: The PCA yielded three components: antisocial behaviour/comorbid psychopathology, narcissistic traits, and callous-unemotional traits. ANS measures were only weakly correlated with these components. Cluster analysis yielded high and low arousal clusters in both sexes. When controlling for covariates, all associations disappeared. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that resting ANS measures are only weakly related to antisocial behaviour and indicate that smoking should be considered as an important covariate in future psychophysiological studies

Euskal jokoa eta jolasa : transmitiendo una herencia vasca a partir del juego

Resumen tomado de la publicaciónSe presenta el programa Gaztamendu que persigue dar a conocer a los jóvenes de los centros vascos la realidad actual de Euskadi e integrar a las nuevas generaciones en la vida activa de las casas centrales (euskal etxeak). Se divide en doce capítulos, cuyo objetivo es el de difundir la cultura vasca a través del juego. Se trata de dar a conocer el mundo cultural lúdico de los niños y jóvenes en el País Vasco. Está dirigido a todos aquellos miembros de las euskal etxeak que se muestran especialmente interesados en favorecer e impulsar la participación de los niños y los jóvenes en la dinámica de sus comunidades. Se intenta crear un puente de unión entre el País Vasco y el resto de comunidades vascas dispersas por el mundo para generar nuevas ideas que permitan aumentar el protagonismo de los jóvenes vascos. Se muestran juegos, bailes, música y el juego de pelota vasca, como elementos distintivos de la cultura de Euskadi, así como los herri kirolak, las traineras, las actividades de montaña o los juegos de fiestas infantiles. Se presentan sus reglas, sus características y sus formas de jugar. Su práctica permite reflexionar sobre lo que esas modalidades de jokoa y jolasa pueden ofrecer en las comunidades de fuera del País Vasco.MadridBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín 5 -3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; [email protected]

Baseline autonomic nervous system activity in female children and adolescents with conduct disorder:Psychophysiological findings from the FemNAT-CD study

Purpose: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning has been widely studied in relation to antisocial behavior, such as Conduct Disorder (CD). However, research in females is scarce and findings are inconsistent. This study investigated baseline ANS activity in CD children and adolescents and tested for sex differences. Furthermore, subgroups of CD were investigated: +/‐ Limited Prosocial Emotions (LPE), +/‐ comorbid internalizing disorders (INT). Methods: Baseline ANS activity was measured by Heart Rate (HR), Heart Rate Variability (HRV; parasympathetic activity), Pre-Ejection Period (PEP; sympathetic activity), and Respiration Rate (RR). 659 females (296 CD, 363 controls) and 351 males (187 CD, 164 controls), aged 9–18 years participated. Results: Baseline HR, HRV and PEP did not differ between CD subjects and controls in both sexes. RR was higher in CD participants than controls amongst females, but not males. LPE was unrelated to ANS activity, whereas females with CD + INT presented lower HRV. Conclusions: These results suggest that baseline ANS activity is not a robust indicator for CD. However, deviant ANS activity – especially parasympathetic activity - was observed in CD females with internalizing comorbidity. The psychophysiological abnormalities observed in this subgroup are indicative of emotion regulation problems. Accordingly, this subgroup may require specific interventions