Influência do exercício físico em memória e funções executivas de pessoas com doença de Parkinson

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dança de salão, funções executivas e memória em idosos institucionalizados

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Atividade física e funções cognitivas frontais associadas aos parâmetros cinemáticos da marcha em pacientes com demência de Alzheimer

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O efeito do treino musical sobre a capacidade da memória operacional e da cognição numérica de crianças com discalculia do desenvolvimento

Pós-graduação em Psicologia do Desenvolvimento e Aprendizagem - FC

Funções neuropsicológicas executivas pós acidente vascular encefálico hemorrágico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação psicológica de pessoas com HIV

Pós-graduação em Psicologia - FCLAS

Efeito do ambiente sobre o período crítico de plasticidade do córtex pré-frontal de ratos

O período crítico de plasticidade do córtex cerebral é a etapa do desenvolvimento pós-natal do sistema nervoso onde os circuitos neurais são mais suscetíveis à mudanças influenciadas por informações oriundas do ambiente. No córtex pré-frontal de humanos, responsável pelas funções executivas, o período crítico de plasticidade estende-se desde o nascimento até o final da adolescência e início da vida adulta. Isto é definido, entre outros fatores, pelo amadurecimento das redes perineuronais, uma estrutura especializada da matriz extracelular, localizada em volta do corpo celular e dendritos proximais de interneurônios inibitórios. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi verificar o efeito do ambiente em etapas distintas da adolescência sobre a estrutura e a função do córtex pré-frontal de ratos e a distribuição da expressão espacial e temporal das redes perineuronais sob estas condições. As funções executivas foram avaliadas através de testes comportamentais medindo a capacidade de memória operacional e a inibição comportamental. Observamos que estímulos estressores crônicos imprevisíveis provocam alterações no período crítico de plasticidade do córtex pré-frontal e, consequentemente, influenciam o amadurecimento das funções executivas. Observamos também que o estresse crônico induz modificação no padrão de amadurecimento das redes perineuronais no córtex pré-frontal. Estes resultados indicam a vulnerabilidade do córtex pré-frontal de ratos adolescentes para os efeitos negativos de estímulos ambientais estressores sobre o período crítico de plasticidade.

The biopsychosocial processes in autism spectrum disorder

Background: Autism is a disorder characterized by pervasive social and communicative impairments, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests. Its causes and effects have been researched from various neurocognitive theoretical perspectives and with the aid of neuroimaging technology. We aimed to describe biopsychosocial processes characteristic of the Autism Spectrum Disorders. Method: Literature review using Medline and Scopus databases published between 2001 and 2011, with the keywords "autism", "theory of mind", "executive functions", "central coherence" and “fMRI”. Results: The studies found were plotted and organized into tables and an explanatory diagram of the main findings was produced. Conclusions: The most popular neurocognitive theories are still unable to fully explain the characteristics of the complications that autistic spectrum disorder causes to the quality of life of individuals living with autism. The association of clinical research and neuroimaging may contribute to a better understanding of the functioning of the brain affected by the disorder.

Equilíbrio, funções executivas e quedas de idosos com demência de Alzheimer: um estudo longitudinal

Falls among older people is a major clinical problem due to its high incidence, with consequent implications for the health and care costs. Elderly patients with dementia of Alzheimer type (AD) are more susceptible to falls due to the impairment of executive functions and gait, with the risk of falls 3 times higher than non-demented elderly. This study used a longitudinal design and aimed to analyze the effects of a regular and systematized physical activity program on the frequency of falls in patients with AD. Additionally, we aimed to correlate the frequency of falls with the executive functions and equilibrium, after and before the physical activity program. The study included 21 patients with clinical diagnosis of AD, divided into two groups: control group (CG), composed of 11 subjects not engaged in any systematized physical activity and training group (TG): 10 seniors who participated in the Cinesioterapia Functional and Cognitive in Elderly with Alzheimer's disease program (PRO-CDA). The physical activity program lasted four months, with weekly frequency of three times, with each session lasting 60 minutes. Were administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to assess cognitive functioning and global score of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) to classify the severity of dementia. For the evaluation of executive functions were used the Clock Drawing Test (TDR) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). In addition, we used the Functional Balance Scale, Berg test (EEFB) and Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) to assess the equilibrium and risk of falls. Falls were recorded by means of a questionnaire, which included the number of falls in the last four months. Analyzing the results, it was observed that TG obtained significant improvements in equilibrium and in executive functions, highlighting the beneficial effects of physical activity in these variables... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Efeitos do Square Stepping Exercise nas capacidades funcionais e funções executivas em frequentadores do Centro do Idoso de Rio Claro - SP

With aging process, there is a natural biological decline that eventually may lead to a functional and cognitive decrease. It is important that older people preserve these functions so they can live an independent life. Some declines in old people who attend Geriatric Day-Care tend to be more severe and recurrent. The Square Stepping Exercise (SSE) is a program created by Shigematsu & Okura (2006), in order to improve the balance of its practitioners, thereby decreasing the risk of falls. It is also believed that the SSE stimulates cognition, and thus, executive functions. The present study, with a longitudinal design, evaluated the effects of SSE in balance performance and executive functions of elderly from the “Centro-Dia do Idoso Padre Casagrande” from Rio Claro – SP. A group of 15 people (GT, n = 15), which performed a four month SSE intervention, and a control group (GC; n = 17) answered the following evaluations.: Questionnaire Registration Data and Anamnesis, Questionnaire Baeck Modified for Elderly, Mini-Mental State Examination, Modified Card Sorting Test, Geriatric Depressive Scale, Questionnaire Pfeffer for Instrumental Activities, Berg Balance Scale and Time Up and Go Test. Although significant improvements have not been observed in GT, the results showed a decline in instrumental activities performance in GC, as well as maintenance in executive functions and balance, and also an improvement in depressive symptoms in GT. This way, Square Stepping Exercise can be considered an activity that helps maintaining functional capacity, among them balance, and executive function in elderly people.

The biopsychosocial processes in autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Background Autism is a disorder characterized by pervasive social and communicative impairments, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests. Its causes and effects have been researched from various neurocognitive theoretical perspectives and with the aid of neuroimaging technology. We aimed to describe biopsychosocial processes characteristic of the Autism Spectrum Disorders. Method Literature review using Medline and Scopus databases published between 2001 and 2011, with the keywords "autism", "theory of mind", "executive functions", "central coherence" and “fMRI”. Results The studies found were plotted and organized into tables and an explanatory diagram of the main findings was produced. Conclusions The most popular neurocognitive theories are still unable to fully explain the characteristics of the complications that autistic spectrum disorder causes to the quality of life of individuals living with autism. The association of clinical research and neuroimaging may contribute to a better understanding of the functioning of the brain affected by the disorder.

Ecological validity of virtual reality daily living activities screening for early dementia: longitudinal study

Background: Dementia is a multifaceted disorder that impairs cognitive functions, such as memory, language, and executive functions necessary to plan, organize, and prioritize tasks required for goal-directed behaviors. In most cases, individuals with dementia experience difficulties interacting with physical and social environments. The purpose of this study was to establish ecological validity and initial construct validity of a fire evacuation Virtual Reality Day-Out Task (VR-DOT) environment based on performance profiles as a screening tool for early dementia. Objective: The objectives were (1) to examine the relationships among the performances of 3 groups of participants in the VR-DOT and traditional neuropsychological tests employed to assess executive functions, and (2) to compare the performance of participants with mild Alzheimer’s-type dementia (AD) to those with amnestic single-domain mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy controls in the VR-DOT and traditional neuropsychological tests used to assess executive functions. We hypothesized that the 2 cognitively impaired groups would have distinct performance profiles and show significantly impaired independent functioning in ADL compared to the healthy controls. Methods: The study population included 3 groups: 72 healthy control elderly participants, 65 amnestic MCI participants, and 68 mild AD participants. A natural user interface framework based on a fire evacuation VR-DOT environment was used for assessing physical and cognitive abilities of seniors over 3 years. VR-DOT focuses on the subtle errors and patterns in performing everyday activities and has the advantage of not depending on a subjective rating of an individual person. We further assessed functional capacity by both neuropsychological tests (including measures of attention, memory, working memory, executive functions, language, and depression). We also evaluated performance in finger tapping, grip strength, stride length, gait speed, and chair stands separately and while performing VR-DOTs in order to correlate performance in these measures with VR-DOTs because performance while navigating a virtual environment is a valid and reliable indicator of cognitive decline in elderly persons. Results: The mild AD group was more impaired than the amnestic MCI group, and both were more impaired than healthy controls. The novel VR-DOT functional index correlated strongly with standard cognitive and functional measurements, such as mini-mental state examination (MMSE; rho=0.26, P=.01) and Bristol Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale scores (rho=0.32, P=.001). Conclusions: Functional impairment is a defining characteristic of predementia and is partly dependent on the degree of cognitive impairment. The novel virtual reality measures of functional ability seem more sensitive to functional impairment than qualitative measures in predementia, thus accurately differentiating from healthy controls. We conclude that VR-DOT is an effective tool for discriminating predementia and mild AD from controls by detecting differences in terms of errors, omissions, and perseverations while measuring ADL functional ability.

It's about time: Current directions in prospective memory

Prospective memory is the ability to plan, to retain and to carry out an intention as planned. It is an important function for leading an autonomous life and only recently research has started to investigate developmental aspects in particular related to attention, executive functions and metacognition. In this symposium, this research is emphasized. In addition, new experimental research on the impact of implementation intentions and importance will be presented.

How do different aspects of self-regulation predict successful adaptation to school?

Self-regulation plays an important role in successful adaptation to preschool and school contexts as well as in later academic achievement. The current study relates different aspects of self-regulation such as temperamental effortful control and executive functions (updating, inhibition, and shifting) to different aspects of adaptation to school such as learning-related behavior, school grades, and performance in standardized achievement tests. The relationship between executive functions/effortful control and academic achievement has been established in previous studies; however, little is known about their unique contributions to different aspects of adaptation to school and the interplay of these factors in young school children. Results of a 1-year longitudinal study (N = 459) revealed that unique contributions of effortful control (parental report) to school grades were fully mediated by children’s learning-related behavior. On the other hand, the unique contributions of executive functions (performance on tasks) to school grades were only partially mediated by children’s learning-related behavior. Moreover, executive functions predicted performance in standardized achievement tests exclusively, with comparable predictive power for mathematical and reading/writing skills. Controlling for fluid intelligence did not change the pattern of prediction substantially, and fluid intelligence did not explain any variance above that of the two included aspects of self-regulation. Although effortful control and executive functions were not significantly related to each other, both aspects of self-regulation were shown to be important for fostering early learning and good classroom adjustment in children around transition to school.