Brain electrical microstates in subjects with panic disorder

Brain electrical microstates represent spatial configurations of scalp recorded brain electrical activity and are considered to be the basic elements of stepwise processing of information in the brain. In the present study, the hypothesis of a temporo-limbic dysfunction in panic disorder (PD) was tested by investigating the topographic descriptors of brain microstates, in particular the one corresponding to the Late Positive Complex (LPC), an event-related potential (ERP) component with generators in these regions. ERPs were recorded in PD patients and matched healthy subjects during a target detection task, in a central (CC) and a lateral condition (LC). In the CC, a leftward shift of the LPC microstate positive centroid was observed in the patients with PD versus the healthy control subjects. In the LC, the topographic descriptor of the first microstate showed a rightward shift, while those of both the second and the fourth microstate, corresponding to the LPC, revealed a leftward shift in the PD patients versus the healthy control subjects. These findings indicate an overactivation of the right hemisphere networks involved in early visual processing and a hypoactivation of the right hemisphere circuits involved in LPC generators in PD. In line with this interpretation, the abnormal topography of the LPC microstate, observed in the CC, was associated with a worse performance on a test exploring right temporo-hippocampal functioning. Topographical abnormalities found for the LPC microstate in the LC were associated with a higher number of panic attacks, suggesting a pathogenetic role of the right temporo-hippocampal dysfunction in PD.

Event-relating to potential dementia. Semantic processing in the course of healthy and pathological aging

While most healthy elderly are able to manage their everyday activities, studies showed that there are both stable and declining abilities during healthy aging. For example, there is evidence that semantic memory processes which involve controlled retrieval mechanism decrease, whereas the automatic functioning of the semantic network remains intact. In contrast, patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suffer from episodic and semantic memory impairments aggravating their daily functioning. In AD, severe episodic as well as semantic memory deficits are observable. While the hallmark symptom of episodic memory decline in AD is well investigated, the underlying mechanisms of semantic memory deterioration remain unclear. By disentangling the semantic memory impairments in AD, the present thesis aimed to improve early diagnosis and to find a biomarker for dementia. To this end, a study on healthy aging and a study with dementia patients were conducted investigating automatic and controlled semantic word retrieval. Besides the inclusion of AD patients, a group of participants diagnosed with semantic dementia (SD) – showing isolated semantic memory loss – was assessed. Automatic and controlled semantic word retrieval was measured with standard neuropsychological tests and by means of event-related potentials (ERP) recorded during the performance of a semantic priming (SP) paradigm. Special focus was directed to the N400 or N400-LPC (late positive component) complex, an ERP that is sensitive to the semantic word retrieval. In both studies, data driven topographical analyses were applied. Furthermore, in the patient study, the combination of the individual baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF) with the N400 topography of each participant was employed in order to relate altered functional electrophysiology to the pathophysiology of dementia. Results of the aging study revealed that the automatic semantic word retrieval remains stable during healthy aging, the N400-LPC complex showed a comparable topography in contrast to the young participants. Both patient groups showed automatic SP to some extent, but strikingly the ERP topographies were altered compared to healthy controls. Most importantly, the N400 was identified as a putative marker for dementia. In particular, the degree of the topographical N400 similarity was demonstrated to separate healthy elderly from demented patients. Furthermore, the marker was significantly related to baseline CBF reduction in brain areas relevant for semantic word retrieval. Summing up, the first major finding of the present thesis was that all groups showed semantic priming, but that the N400 topography differed significantly between healthy and demented elderly. The second major contribution was the identification of the N400 similarity as a putative marker for dementia. To conclude, the present thesis added evidence of preserved automatic processing during healthy aging. Moreover, a possible marker which might contribute to an improved diagnosis and lead consequently to a more effective treatment of dementia was presented and has to be further developed.

Identidades de Género y Sexuales en el Lenguaje. Lenguaje Políticamente Correcto : Dos Caras de la Moneda

El presente proyecto tiene como punto de partida el análisis de usos políticamente correctos en el inglés en relación con identidades de género y sexuales. Se enfoca en el análisis de ejemplos tomados de noticias periodísticas y blogs, de los cuales se seleccionan ítems léxicos que, entendemos, revelan actitudes de los/las hablantes hacia cuestiones de género y diversidad sexual. ;Se procede desde un marco teórico general anclado en teorizaciones sobre género y sexualidad, siendo el análisis lingüístico en gran parte de elaboración propia, dadas las dificultades experimentadas al intentar dar con bibliografía específica. ;El análisis puede desglosarse en tres partes, cada una de las cuales intenta dar respuesta a las siguientes preguntas: ;1. ¿De qué forma contribuye el lenguaje políticamente correcto (LPC) a un lenguaje más inclusivo? ;2. ¿Qué tan efectivo es el LPC cuando los rasgos identitarios de género y orientación sexual son relevantes? ;3. ¿Cuáles son las reacciones de los/as usuarios/as al LPC? ;A partir de esto, y lejos de condenar el uso del LPC, el trabajo tiene por objetivo destacar la complejidad del entramado en el que se vinculan el lenguaje y las identidades de género y sexuales en la lengua inglesa.

Identidades de Género y Sexuales en el Lenguaje. Lenguaje Políticamente Correcto : Dos Caras de la Moneda

El presente proyecto tiene como punto de partida el análisis de usos políticamente correctos en el inglés en relación con identidades de género y sexuales. Se enfoca en el análisis de ejemplos tomados de noticias periodísticas y blogs, de los cuales se seleccionan ítems léxicos que, entendemos, revelan actitudes de los/las hablantes hacia cuestiones de género y diversidad sexual. ;Se procede desde un marco teórico general anclado en teorizaciones sobre género y sexualidad, siendo el análisis lingüístico en gran parte de elaboración propia, dadas las dificultades experimentadas al intentar dar con bibliografía específica. ;El análisis puede desglosarse en tres partes, cada una de las cuales intenta dar respuesta a las siguientes preguntas: ;1. ¿De qué forma contribuye el lenguaje políticamente correcto (LPC) a un lenguaje más inclusivo? ;2. ¿Qué tan efectivo es el LPC cuando los rasgos identitarios de género y orientación sexual son relevantes? ;3. ¿Cuáles son las reacciones de los/as usuarios/as al LPC? ;A partir de esto, y lejos de condenar el uso del LPC, el trabajo tiene por objetivo destacar la complejidad del entramado en el que se vinculan el lenguaje y las identidades de género y sexuales en la lengua inglesa.

Identidades de Género y Sexuales en el Lenguaje. Lenguaje Políticamente Correcto : Dos Caras de la Moneda

El presente proyecto tiene como punto de partida el análisis de usos políticamente correctos en el inglés en relación con identidades de género y sexuales. Se enfoca en el análisis de ejemplos tomados de noticias periodísticas y blogs, de los cuales se seleccionan ítems léxicos que, entendemos, revelan actitudes de los/las hablantes hacia cuestiones de género y diversidad sexual. ;Se procede desde un marco teórico general anclado en teorizaciones sobre género y sexualidad, siendo el análisis lingüístico en gran parte de elaboración propia, dadas las dificultades experimentadas al intentar dar con bibliografía específica. ;El análisis puede desglosarse en tres partes, cada una de las cuales intenta dar respuesta a las siguientes preguntas: ;1. ¿De qué forma contribuye el lenguaje políticamente correcto (LPC) a un lenguaje más inclusivo? ;2. ¿Qué tan efectivo es el LPC cuando los rasgos identitarios de género y orientación sexual son relevantes? ;3. ¿Cuáles son las reacciones de los/as usuarios/as al LPC? ;A partir de esto, y lejos de condenar el uso del LPC, el trabajo tiene por objetivo destacar la complejidad del entramado en el que se vinculan el lenguaje y las identidades de género y sexuales en la lengua inglesa.

Geochemical composition and ages of sediment core BELQ300 obtained from Lake Belau, north Germany

Geochemical and palynological data from an annually laminated core sequence (Lake Belau, Schleswig-Holstein) are interpreted with respect to vegetation and settlement history on the basis of a chronostratigraphical model and archaeological evidence. Most settlement periods indicated by pollen and archaeological data can be geochemically identified in the sediment sequence using tracer elements such as K, Rb, Zr and the K/Zr ratio. Whilst air-borne pollen carry a more regional signal, the sedimentary flux of these trace elements is determined by the allogenic input from the catchment area of the lake and, therefore, provides information about the local history of settlement and agricultural land use in the lake's vicinity. This is exemplified for the period of the middle Neolithic Funnel Beaker Culture ('Iversen landnam'), where a time offset of 250 years between both signals has been detected. In contrast, both geochemical and pollen signals are highly synchronous during the Early Migration Period and the High Medieval Period. Additionally, the Fe/Ca and/or U/Fe ratio may serve as a sensitive tracer for human impact on the trophic state of the lake. The suggested impact of the Romans and the High Medieval civilization can clearly be seen (and quantified) from elevated lead input into Lake Belau sediments at this time. Effects of secular climatic changes on the sedimentary chemistry have not been detected and, if present, seem to have been obliterated by anthropogenic activity.