Conscientious objection and ideological impositions: The Drift of The Mayflower

This article discusses the problematic and evading development of conscientiousobjection in the context of the Colombian constitutional jurisprudence. From a historical allusion to the famous case of the “Mayflower Pilgrims” –which serve as areference to the central problems that faces the objector–, it seeks to define the scopeof conscientious objection as a fundamental right (as a fundamental justice claim)in regard to the “factual” and “legal” possibilities for its exercise, for which there willbe a brief contrast between the most representative cases decided by the ColombianConstitutional Court in such matter. The core of the article is the idea that thereis an ideological prevalence that, unjustifiably, makes it difficult and in some casesdenies the exercise of the right to object in consciousness, particularly when it comes tothe right of life in regard to the abortion case.

Rehabilitation of executive functions: Implications and strategies

Executive Functions (EF) concern a range of abilitiesincluding problem-solving, planning, initiation, selfmonitoring,conscious attention, cope with new situationsand the ability to modify plans if necessary. It’s ahigh cognitive function that is crucial for a person to getengaged and maintain daily activities whilst keeping agood quality of life. Problems in the EF were formerlyknown as Dysexecutive Syndrome (DS). There are manymodels concerning DS, although the literature on thesubject still remains unclear. Several works appoint theeffects brought by elderly life, as well as abuse of drugsand some psychopathologies. These factors are knownto increase the distress of the frontal circuits and thatcould be associated to executive deficits. The effects ofDS would compromise individuals in day-to-day routine,academic, social and labor fields. There is a growingbody of studies trying to determine the causes, implications,associations and the best way to take care of theseeffects. This work intends to review DS, focusing on themost important fields related to this area, such as psychopathologyassociations, cognitive reserve, assessmentand cognitive rehabilitation programs.

Propiedades psicométricas de la Prueba de Procesamiento Fonológico “PROFON” en niños de 4 a 7 años de edad

Este estudio exploró las propiedades psicométricas de la Prueba de Procesamiento Fonológico de Lara, Serra, Aguilar y Flórez (2005) en una muestra de 478 niños de 4 a 7 años de edad en Bogotá y Chía en varios niveles socioeconómicos. Se analizó con pruebas de dificultad, discriminación, matriz de relaciones tetracóricas, coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach y análisis de componentes principales con rotación varimax para validez de constructo. Los resultados mostraron, en conciencia fonológica, un buen rendimiento menos en cuatro ítems, correspondencia del análisis de factores con la división es subescalas y niveles, y alta confiabilidad con bajo nivel de discriminación en la subescala de memoria fonológica. Los resultados se discutieron con base en los componentes de la habilidad de procesamiento fonológico.

Assessment of social cognition in schizophrenia through the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test. Implications for rehabilitation

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness that has effect on cognitive and social functioning of a person who suffers it. Recent research points out that social cognition subprocesses, such as Theory of Mind, social perception or emotional processing, have to do with some problems that patients show in their social adjustment. Aim: Assessing ability of recognizing mental states from facial expressions in schizophrenia patients compared to a control group. Subjects and methods: 17 stable schizophrenia patients who are aware of the illness and 17 healthy people, with the same age and sociocultural level, took the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” Test Revised Version of Baron- Cohen. Results: Compared with the control group, subjects with schizophrenia showed much lower scores. Conclusions: It is confirmed that schizophrenia patients have impairments to understand facial expressions, especially from the eyes. That is typical of this illness, so it is necessary to do interventions at that point. Furthermore, inability to recognize emotions, as a domain of social cognition, contributes to deficit in functional outcome in schizophrenia. Finally, some treatment programs are put forward.

Paroxysmal upgaze deviation: case report

The paroxysmal upgaze deviation is a syndrome that described in infants for first time in 1988; there are just about 50 case reports worldwide ever since. Its etiology is unclear and though it prognosis is variable; most case reports indicate that during growth the episodes tend to decrease in frequency and duration until they disappear. It describes a 16-months old male child who since 11-months old presented many episodes of variable conjugate upward deviation of the eyes, compensatory neck flexion and down-beat saccades in attempted downgaze. These events are predominantly diurnal, and are exacerbated by stressful situations such as fasting or insomnia, however and improve with sleep. They have normal neurologic and ophthalmologic examination, and neuroimaging and EEG findings are not relevant.

Formas identitarias en la región fronteriza de Táchira (Venezuela) ‒ Norte de Santander (Colombia)

El presente artículo busca describir las formas identitarias en la región fronteriza de Táchira (Venezuela) ― Norte de Santander (Colombia). El diseño de la investigación se corresponde con la metodología cualitativa, y adopta como método la Teoría Fundamentada; se aplicó el muestreo teórico en combinación con la saturación teórica para analizar las entrevistas de un conjunto de informantes clave ubicados a ambos lados del límite internacional. Así mismo, se hizo una revisión de la literatura especializada sobre identidad y formas de identidad contemplando los aportes de diversas disciplinas científicas. Los datos son analizados siguiendo la línea de codificación teórica (abierta, axial y selectiva) y la inducción analítica para revelar conceptos emergentes y desvelar sus vinculaciones. Los resultados evidencian elementos comunes y divergentes en las formas identitarias: la “identidad personal” (elementos de autopercepción, parentescos, doble identidad y diferenciación identitaria), la “identidad fronteriza” (la región se percibe como diferente del resto), la “identidad nacional” (historia, conciencia del límite y símbolos), los cuales coexisten en los habitantes de frontera. Los “aspectos actitudinales” muestran aceptación y rechazo frente al desempeño de las principales instituciones presentes en la dinámica fronteriza. Las formas identitarias encontradas en la región confirman los estudios sobre identidad y fronteras, aunque es de destacar que la experiencia del límite internacional no alcanza a desdibujar las percepciones nacionales estereotipadas del otro.