What memory binding functions is the hippocampus responsible for?

The role of the hippocampus in binding information in working memory (WM) is little understood. When complex experiences comprise associations between different pieces of information such as objects and locations (relational binding), the function of the hippocampus is required to hold them in WM (Mitchell et al., 2000; 2006; Piekema, 2006). However, recent evidence suggests that if the to-be-associated information leads to the formation of integrated objects such as coloured shapes (conjunctive binding), the hippocampus is less involved in holding temporary representations of these complex events in WM (Baddeley et al., 2010; Piekema, 2006). We investigated the relational and conjunctive binding hypotheses of the hippocampal functions in a patient with right hippocampal damage. The patient and controls were asked to study visual arrays of stimuli which consisted of shape-colour relations (shape-colour pairs) or shape-colour conjunctions (coloured shapes). After the study array, they were presented with a new screen consisting of one set of shapes (line drawings) and one set of colours. They were asked to reconstruct the bindings by selecting the shapes and their corresponding colours. As compared to healthy controls, the patient was impaired in holding relations of shapes and colours in WM whereas he could retain the conjunctions similarly to controls. These results lend support to the role of the hippocampus in supporting memory for inter-item associations but not memory for conjunctions of features which define objects' identity

Tres textos y una reflexión

Se analizan tres textos literarios, uno de Tolstoi, otro de Mario Testa y, el último, de Julio Cortázar. En ellos se describen, en diferentes épocas y contextos, la percepción del paciente con respecto al equipo de salud, ya sea en la consulta como en la internación. Se analizan sus similitudes y se plantea la hipótesis de que tal percepción se debe a la formación “biologicista” en ciencias de la salud, y que un regreso al humanismo médico y formación en factores humanos desde el comienzo de las carreras es imprescindible para colocar al “enfermo” en condición de “paciente”, sujeto y no objeto de atención, cambiar el discurso médico dando lugar a la percepción de este, y, a la vez, prepararse para modificar los actuales sistemas de salud y enfrentar el desafío deshumanizante de las nuevas tecnologías.Three literary texts are analyzed, one by Tolstoi, another by Mario Testa, and the last, by Julio Cortázar. They describe, in different times and contexts, the perception of the patient with respect to the health team, both in the consultation and in hospitalization. Their similarities are analyzed and the hypothesis is raised that such perception is due to the "biologist" training in health sciences, and that a return to medical humanism and training in human factors from the beginning of the careers is essential to place the "Sick" as a "patient", subject and not object of care, change the medical discourse giving rise to his perception, and, at the same time, prepare to modify current health systems and face the dehumanizing challenge new technologies.São analisados ​​três textos literários, um de Tolstoi, outro de Mario Testa e o último de Julio Cortázar. Descrevem, em diferentes momentos e contextos, a percepção do paciente em relação à equipe de saúde, seja na consulta ou na internação. Suas semelhanças são analisadas e a hipótese  que tal percepção se deve à formação do "biólogo" nas ciências da saúde, e que o retorno ao humanismo médico e à formação em fatores humanos desde o início das carreiras é fundamental para colocar o "paciente" na condição de "paciente" sujeito e não objeto de atenção, mudar o discurso médico que dá origem à sua percepção e, ao mesmo tempo, preparar-se para modificar os atuais sistemas de saúde e enfrentar o desafio desumanizador das novas tecnologias

Adaptation of the personal social capital brief scale for the measurement of the offline and online social capital in Italy

Social Capital refers to the resources associated with durable and trustworthy social connections. Social Capital can be developed through offline and online relationships. It can be distinguished between cognitive Social Capital (perception of trustworthiness, reciprocity, and support) and structural Social Capital (density of social networks and membership, and participation in groups and associations). It can also be distinguished between bonding Social Capital (resources associated with informal networks; i.e., neighbors, friends, colleagues) and bridging Social Capital (resources associated with formal networks; i.e., community service, cultural, religious or political groups/associations). The different forms and dimensions of Social Capital may have distinct effects on health outcomes and self-rated health. Therefore, public health researchers need valid and reliable instruments to investigate Social Capital. However, valid instruments including the measurement of online Social Capital are not available. The Personal Social Capital Scale aims to assess bonding and bridging Social Capital by means of cognitive and structural items. In the present investigation, three studies were carried out (N = 1149) to adapt the Personal Social Capital Scale to develop the Personal On-Offline Social Capital Brief Scale, a brief scale for measuring online and offline bonding and bridging Social Capital in Italy. Factorial structure and convergent/divergent validity in relation to scales measuring constructs with different patterns of relationships with bonding and bridging Social Capital (i.e., social support and stress; sense of community and health) were also investigated. Overall, these studies provide evidence of reliability and validity related to the internal structure of the Personal On-Offline Social Capital Brief Scale in measuring online and offline bonding and bridging Social Capital and discriminating them from similar constructs. This scale is a useful instrument for planning public health interventions