Allocentric Spatial Memory Performance in a Virtual Reality-Based Task is Conditioned by Visuospatial Working Memory Capacity

Traditionally, the medial temporal lobe has been considered a key brain region for spatial memory. Nevertheless, executive functions, such as working memory, also play an important role in complex behaviors, such as spatial navigation. Thus, the main goal of this study is to clarify the relationship between working memory capacity and spatial memory performance. Spatial memory was assessed using a virtual reality-based procedure, the Boxes Room task, and the visual working memory with the computer-based Change Localization Task. One hundred and twenty-three (n = 123) participants took part in this study. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) revealed a statistically significant relationship between working memory capacity and spatial abilities. Thereafter, two subgroups n = 60, were formed according to their performance in the working memory task (1st and 4th quartiles, n = 30 each). Results demonstrate that participants with high working memory capacity committed fewer mistakes in the spatial task compared to the low working memory capacity group. Both groups improved their performance through repeated trials of the spatial task, thus showing that they could learn spatial layouts independent of their working memory capacity. In conclusion, these findings support that spatial memory performance is directly related to working memory skills. This could be relevant for spatial memory assessment in brain lesioned patients

Red de coordinación de la implantación del primer curso del grado en Tecnologías de la Información para la Salud

En este trabajo se ha intentado recoger las acciones que se han llevado a cabo en la coordinación de la implantación del primer curso del nuevo grado de Tecnologías de la Información para la Salud, grado con un marcado carácter multidisciplinar que condiciona la enseñanza de los contenidos. Entre estas acciones se han revisado las guías de cada asignatura participante en la red y se han realizado reuniones de seguimiento de la implantación de las asignaturas para detectar fortalezas y debilidades en el proceso docente. También se ha contado con la opinión de alumnos bien a través de encuestas bien directamente en conversaciones con los representantes del alumnado. Pretendemos que las conclusiones obtenidas tras el análisis de resultados se puedan aplicar el curso que viene y, de esta forma, avanzar en la implantación de la titulación con calidad y, especialmente, con el objetivo de formar egresados que satisfagan las necesidades de la sociedad

Efecto de facilitación semántica de palabras lateralizadas

Reducción altaEl objetivo de la tesis es relacionar dos áreas de investigación: por una parte, el problema de la especialización cerebral en la función lingüística y, por otra, la problemática relacionada con la disociación entre procesos automáticos y controlados en el procesamiento semántico de estímulos verbales parafoveales. Para ello se ha utilizado el paradigma experimental de priming (facilitación) en una tarea que permite estudiar ambos tipos de problemática. Los resultados muestran patrones de asimetría que son coherentes con algunas formulaciones teóricas recientes de la lateralización cerebral basadas en el procesamiento de la información. Además, los datos aportados son concluyentes para afirmar que las palabras presentadas en la parafovea se analizan a nivel semántico y que existe una influencia del grado de atención en el procesamiento de las mismas. Dichas influencias están mediatizadas por las estrategias individuales de los sujetos.Univ. de Granada, Departamento de Psicología Experimental y Fisiología del Comportamiento. Leída el 22-09-8

La tarea de seguimiento en el estudio de la atención selectiva

The numerous equivocal results of the studies using a shadowing task in the investigation of the selective process have favoured the maintenance of the controversy about the selectivity problem. The purpose of the present article was to analyse some factors responsible in this experimental discrepancy: 1. Methodological problems associated with the shadowing studies. 2. Some variables related with the shadowing task whose influence has not been considered in the literature. 3. Extreme theoretical conceptions about selective attention. The analysis that we have realized suggests a new survey of the selectivity and capacity problems, where the early/late selection dichotomy is questionned and in its place more flexible conceptions about the attentional process are assumed.La utilización de la tarea de seguimiento en el estudio de la atención selectiva, ha dado lugar a un gran número de resultados confusos y contradictorios que han influido en el mantenimiento de la controversia sobre el problema de la selectividad. El objetivo del presente artículo fue analizar algunos factores responsables de esta discrepancia experimental: 1. Problemas metodológicos asociados con los estudios de seguimiento. 2. Variables relacionadas con la tarea de seguimiento cuya influencia no ha sido tomada en cuenta en la literatura. 3. Concepciones teóricas extremas sobre la atención selectiva. El análisis realizado sugiere un replanteamiento de los problemas de selectividad y capacidad, donde se cuestione la dicotomía selección anterior/posterior y en su lugar se asuman concepciones más flexibles del proceso atencional

Semantic priming effects with and without perceptual awareness

The present research was aimed to reply and extend several recent findings showing qualitatively different behavioral effects produced by words perceived with vs. without awareness. Participants made a semantic categorization task on a target that was preceded by a prime word belonging either to the same (20% of trials) or to a different category (80%). The prime was always presented briefly and followed either immediately or after a delay by a pattern mask. In contrast to prior studies, the masking type varied randomly from trial to trial. For trials with an immediate mask (which avoided conscious identification of the prime), a significant facilitatory semantic priming was found. For trials with a delayed mask (on which participants were able to identify the prime), a significant "reversed" semantic priming was observed. The present findings provide further evidence that perceiving a stimulus with or without awareness can lead to qualitatively different behavioral consequences, which reflect the contribution of strategy-based (controlled) and automatic components, respectively

Implementación del portfolio discente en las prácticas del Programa Oficial de Postgrado (Máster y Doctorado) en Biotecnología y Biomedicina

La convergencia con el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES), implica la introducción de nuevas metodologías de trabajo en la Docencia Universitaria y este tránsito va a suponer un esfuerzo importante por parte de profesores, alumnos y demás participantes en el proceso formativo. El objetivo general de este proyecto es, utilizar el recurso del Portfolio Discente en la formación práctica de los alumnos del primer curso (2006/2007) del Programa Oficial de Postgrado en Biotecnología y Biomedicina. Para llevar a cabo el citado objetivo hemos diseñado y elaborado una serie de productos y estrategias para implementar el Portfolio Discente. Además, nos proponemos establecer la composición de créditos ECTS, de las prácticas de las distintas asignaturas, a partir de los datos obtenidos del Portfolio Discente, así como evaluar los Portfolios de distintas materias y realizar una serie de talleres para el establecimiento de criterios y estándares para la confección de Portfolios o Carpetas de alumno. Hasta este momento hemos implementado todos los objetivos, encontrándonos en la parte de evaluación de los Portfolios

Red de coordinación de la implantación del primer curso del grado en Tecnologías de la Información para la Salud

En este trabajo se ha intentado recoger las acciones que se han llevado a cabo en la coordinación de la implantación del primer curso del nuevo grado de Tecnologías de la Información para la Salud, grado con un marcado carácter multidisciplinar que condiciona la enseñanza de los contenidos. Entre estas acciones se han revisado las guías de cada asignatura participante en la red y se han realizado reuniones de seguimiento de la implantación de las asignaturas para detectar fortalezas y debilidades en el proceso docente. También se ha contado con la opinión de alumnos bien a través de encuestas bien directamente en conversaciones con los representantes del alumnado. Pretendemos que las conclusiones obtenidas tras el análisis de resultados se puedan aplicar el curso que viene y, de esta forma, avanzar en la implantación de la titulación con calidad y, especialmente, con el objetivo de formar egresados que satisfagan las necesidades de la sociedad

Effects of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: an international prospective cohort study an international prospective cohort study

We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care. We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care