Marcadores hormonales del síndrome de sobreentrenamiento

Los programas de entrenamiento deportivo pretenden mejorar el rendimiento mediante la exposición a cargas de trabajo de intensidad creciente. Sin embargo, ocasionalmente se produce una desadaptación, el denominado Síndrome de Sobreentrenamiento (SSE), que perjudica gravemente el rendimiento y la salud del deportista. Para el diagnóstico del SSE se ha reecurrido a diversos marcadores entre los que cabe destacar los hormonales. La monitorización de las hormonas implicadas en la regulación de las respuestas de estrés permite evaluar el grado de adaptación al entrenamiento. Se concluye que el cociente testosterona/cortisol es, actualmente, el marcador con más posibilidades de ser utilizado como instrumento disgnóstico. Sin embargo, se requiere más investigación para clarificar los criterios y las condiciones de su aplicación a diversas especialidades deportivas. Además, se considera el uso complementario de indicadores psicológicos y la necesidad de estudiar las interrelaciones entre ambos tipos de marcadores para comprender más cabalmente la naturaleza e implicaciones globales del síndromeTraining programmes aim to improve sports performance through workloads of increasing intensity. However, sometimes an imbalance appears, the so called Overtraining Syndrome (OTS), which produces enhanced fatigability, health problems and seriously impairs performance. The ability to differentiate between the desadaptative state of OTS and the appropiate adaptation to training, which also frequently involves fatigue states, is a main problem. For this the assessment of the degree of adaptation to training. Testosterone/cortisol ratio is currently the marker with more possibilities to be used as a diagnostic instrument. However, more research is necessary in order to clarify the criteria and conditions to apply it. In addition, psychological indicators could complement the detection and prevention of this syndrome. The analyses of the interrelationships between physiological and psychological markers is claimed to better understand the nature and global implications of this syndrom

Indicadores psicológicos de sobreentrenamiento y agotamiento

El estado de agotamiento producido fundamentalmente por un sobreentrenamiento, aunque facilitado por otros estresores incluídos los extradeportivos, provoca una amplia síntomatología junto a un deterioro del rendimiento, que impiden a algunos deportistas mantener o superar sus marcas previas. Por ello, ha aumentado el número de investigaciones orientadas a la detección de indicadores que tracen de forma correcta el límite entre la adaptación al entrenamiento y el agotamiento. Los marcadores biológicos disponibles actualmente no proporcionan un criterio unánimemente aceptado para definir este límite, por lo que la investigación se ha orientado al uso de algunos indicadores psicológicos, que ofrecen resultados prometedores. Concretamente, en este trabajo se revisan los estudios que han utilizado instrumentos psicológicos (RPE, POMS y algunas escalas específicas) para la evaluación de los síntomas del sobreentrenamiento.An excessive training can prevent the maintenance or improvement of the previous sports performance. This drop in the performance is mainly due to the overtraining, and it is usually called overtraining syndrome, staleness or fatigue. Because of the negative effects of this state, recent research has focused on the boundary between adaptation or disadaptation to training. Biological and psychological markers have been used for detecting overtraining. Recently, several psychological ratings have been employed in this field. This paper critically reviews psychological tools used for detecting psychological disruption produced by erroneous training programmes. In concrete, we will analyse results obtained from the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), the Profile of Mood States (POMS), complaint indexes, and symptoms and well-being scales

Bases hormonals de la conducta prosocial: una revisió de la literatura

Resumen: En los últimos años se ha intensificado el estudio de las conductas prosociales, incluyendo una mayor atención a los aspectos neuropsicobiológicos implicados en tales conductas, para entender su funcionamiento, así como para fomentarlas. Las investigaciones también pueden proporcionar una aproximación a la búsqueda de tratamientos más acertados a aquellas enfermedades en las que la cognición social se ve alterada. El objetivo principal del presente trabajo es establecer el estado actual de la cuestión, revisando la literatura publicada sobre las hormonas que influyen a la conducta prosocial, tanto en animales como en humanos. Los resultados de la investigación apuntan a la oxitocina, la vasopresina, la testosterona, los receptores α del estrógeno y la serotonina como las sustancias más relevantes. Abstract: During the last years, an increasing amount of studies have focused on prosocial behavior. Many of them display a strong interest in the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms involved in such behavior, which is absolutely necessary in order to achieve a complete comprehension of its nature, as well as to promote and improve prosocial behavior in human societies. The research may also provide the basis to develop more accurate prescriptions for the diseases in which social cognition is affected. The main object of this study is to assess the current state of the art in this field, by reviewing the scientific literature that provides information about the hormones affecting prosocial behavior in animals as well as in human beings. The results point out that oxytocin, vassopressin, testosterone, alpha-estrogen receptors, and serotonin seem to be the most relevant endocrine products. Resum En els últims anys s'ha intensificat l'estudi de les conductes prosocials, incloent-hi més atenció als aspectes neuropsicobiològics implicats en aquestes conductes, per entendre el seu funcionament, així com per a fomentar-les. Les investigacions també poden proporcionar una aproximació a la recerca de tractaments més encertats per a aquelles malalties en què la cognició social es veu alterada. L'objectiu principal del present treball és establir l'estat actual de la qüestió, revisant la literatura publicada sobre les hormones que influeixen en la conducta prosocial, tant en animals com en humans. Els resultats de la investigació apunten a l'oxitocina, la vasopressina, la testosterona, els receptors α de l'estrogen i la serotonina com les substàncies més rellevants

Outdoor academic debate as a tool to stimulate critical thinking and scientific orientation: a pilot experience

This paper aims to present a pilot experience conducted during the spring of 2018 in the Jardí Botànic (Botanic Garden) of the Universitat de València. The experience brought about 24 students from the degrees of Sociology, Primary School Education and Psychology in the same university (6 students from each degree), and 6 students from different academic backgrounds, including Master´s Degree students and one PhD student. The main goal of the pilot study is to analyze the perception and effectiveness of an academic debate seminar made outdoors and including students from different academic backgrounds. It was organized in three sessions of three hours each, with a pre-established distribution of roles between moderators and participants was pre-established. Clear rules of the functioning were also set up. The debate was structured in different parts, the duration of which had been previously established, as well as the time allocated to each intervention. Mutual trust and respect were also promoted and different dialectical positions and arguments were encouraged. At the end the students assessed the experience and had the opportunity to explain the extent to which the experience was fruitful in an individual essay, highlighting especially two positive aspects: the outdoor environment and the possibility to interact with students of other careers

Impacte del bilingüisme sobre l'estructura cerebral

Neuroscientific research on bilingualism has traditionally focused on its functional implications. The brain is a continually changing organ (due to genetic as well as nongenetic causes), and language's pervasiveness in human behaviour allows to consider bilingualism as a highly demanding cognitive condition. During the last ten years, important developments of the neuroimaging techniques have boosted significant progresses in the knowledge about the neural correlates of language processing and representation. Many studies have shown that bilingualism might be involved in Grey Matter volume's changes in brain regions such as the inferior frontal Gyrus or the Posterior Supramarginal Gyrus, as well as in promoting a greater White Matter integrity in several brain structures. Furthermore, bilingualism has been recently linked to a delay of 4 to 5 years in the onset of dementia, so suggesting that it could be an effective strategy to enhance the Cognitive Reserve. Key words: bilingualism, Grey and White Matter, Cognitive Reserv

Ageing: Not only an age-related issue

Developments in the last century have led to an unprecedented increase in life expectancy. These changes open opportunities for humans to grow and develop in healthy and adaptive ways, adding life to years as well as years to life. There are also challenges, however - as we live longer, a greater number of people will experience chronic illness and disability, often linked to lifestyle factors. The current paper advances an argument that there are fundamental biological sex differences which, sometimes directly and sometime mediated by lifestyle factors, underpin the marked differences in morbidity and mortality that we find between the sexes. Furthermore, we argue that it is necessary to consider sex as a key factor in research on healthy ageing, allowing for the possibility that different patterns exist between males and females, and that therefore different approaches and interventions are required to optimise healthy ageing in both sexes

Debate académico de puertas abiertas como herramienta para estimular el pensamiento crítico y la orientación científica : una experiencia piloto

Se presenta una experiencia piloto realizada durante la primavera de 2018 en el Jardí Botànic de la Universitat de València. La experiencia reunió a 24 estudiantes de las titulaciones de Sociología, Educación Primaria y Psicología de la misma universidad (6 estudiantes de cada titulación), más 6 estudiantes de diferentes titulaciones académicas, incluyendo máster y doctorado. El objetivo principal del estudio piloto es analizar la percepción y la efectividad de un seminario de debate académico llevado a cabo al aire libre, y con la participación de alumnos de diferentes ámbitos académicos. Se organizó en tres sesiones de tres horas cada una, con una distribución preestablecida de roles entre moderadores y participantes. También se establecieron normas claras de funcionamiento. El debate se estructuró en varias partes, y tanto la duración de las sesiones como el tiempo asignado a cada intervención habían sido determinadas con antelación. El foco se centró en promover la confianza y el respeto mutuo entre participantes, y se estimuló a los participantes que adoptaran y mantuvieran diferentes posiciones y argumentos dialécticos. Al final, los estudiantes evaluaron la experiencia y tuvieron la oportunidad de explicar hasta qué punto les había resultado fructífera, en un ensayo individual, en el que destacaron especialmente dos aspectos positivos: el entorno exterior y la posibilidad de interactuar con estudiantes de otras carreras

Hormonal responses to competition

S p o rts competitions have been employed to analy ze the influence of social confro n t ations on hormonal levels. Howeve r, results have been inconsistent. Seve ral va ri ables such as outcome, phy s i c a l exe rtion, mood and causal at t ri bution have been considered as important mediat o rs of this infl u e nc e. Our aim was to examine their role in the testosterone and cortisol responses to a real confro n t ation. To this end, twe l ve judoists who part i c i p ated in a competition between clubs we re studied. Results showed non significant diffe rences depending on outcome in hormones, physical exe rtion, mood and causal at t ri bution; only sat i s faction with the outcome being significant. Intere s t i n g ly, testoste rone response was positive ly associated with self-ap p raisal of perfo rmance and at t ri bution of outcome to personal effo rt. Cortisol response showed a ve ry consistent re l ationship with negat ive moo d. These findings support a clear association of competition-induced hormonal responses with cogni t ive and emotional aspects rather than with objective (outcome or physical exe rtion) ch a ra c t e ri stics of the situat i o n

Testosterona y evaluación de la conducta agresiva en jóvenes judokas

En un grupo de jóvenes judokas (15 a 22 años), se analizan las relaciones entre los andrógenos y la conducta agresiva evaluada por dos instrumentos: un autoinforme y un cuestionario cumplimentado por los entrenadores, que presenta correlaciones más consistentes con los valores hormonales. En la muestra estudiada, las relaciones entre hormonas y conducta agresiva son más evidentes entre los sujetos de mayor edad que entre los adolescentes. Este aumento de la conducta agresiva está significativamente relacionado con la edad y con los años de práctica del Judo. Los sujetos de alto nivel competitivo obtienen puntuaciones significativamente mayores que los de nivel más bajo, sugiriendo la influencia de la actividad competitiva sobre la conducta agresivaRelationships between androgenic hormones and aggressive behavior are analysed in young judoists (15-22 years). Aggressive behavior has been assessed by two means: a self-report inventory and a scale answered by the subjects' coaches. This scale shows more consistent correlations with hormonal values. In our subjects, these relations are stronger in older than in younger subjects. The increase in aggressive behavior is significantly related to the age and also to the time of judo practice. High-level competitors obtain significantly higher scores than low-level subjects, suggesting the influence of competition on aggressive behavio