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Very little has been written about the national pioneer investigators and the formal institutions and channels of knowledge that have contributed to the consolidation of cognitive neuroscience in Chile. This article is a review based on scientific publications, magazine articles and interviews with neuroscientists that were key to the development of cognitive neuroscience in Chile. In particular, the review incorporates information about the different Chilean investigators, the universities where they completed their doctoral studies, and the institutions where they settled afterwards. The objective of this article is to describe the way in which neuroscientific knowledge extended in Chile and to give recognition to pioneering scientists. The information retrieved was processed through the reconstruction of an interaction network between local and foreign neuroscientists, as well as their universities and institutions of origin, that contributed to the development of cognitive neuroscience in Chile. A visual representation of these networks was elaborated. In addition, the scientists' academic training in Chile and abroad is summarized in a table. This analysis allows for a deeper comprehension of the socio-historical context in which cognitive neuroscience emerges and encourages a critical perspective of its development in Chile.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Neurociencia Cognitiva , Universidades , ChileRESUMEN
Introducción: La sincronía neuronal se muestra como un elemento central en la unificación de la actividad cerebral y en la emergencia de nuestra conciencia, y parece ser fundamental en el desarrollo del pensamiento, atención, memoria, acciones motoras y en la capacidad de percibir estímulos externos e internos de forma balanceada y unificada. La disfunción de estos mecanismos podría dar cuenta de las alteraciones que subyacen a la esquizofrenia. Objetivo: Proporcionar una visión general sobre los mecanismos mediante los cuales nuestro cerebro realiza la integración de la realidad y dar una visión crítica acerca de considerar la alteración de la sincronía neuronal como un proceso subyacente a la amplia gama de problemas observados en la esquizofrenia. Método: Se resumen los resultados de varios estudios en el contexto de una revisión de la literatura. Resultados: Distintos estudios indican que alteraciones en el desarrollo de redes neuronales podrían tener un rol etiológico fundamental en la esquizofrenia, generando disfunciones en la sincronía neuronal. Estas alteraciones en la sincronización se traducirían en regiones hipoconectadas, pero también en otras hiperconectadas, dando lugar a síntomas negativos y positivos, respectivamente. Conclusiones: La sincronía neuronal parece tener un papel crucial en el procesamiento de la información, la integración cerebral y la percepción unitaria de la realidad. La alteración de la sincronía neuronal podría ser un determinante central en el desarrollo de esta enfermedad. La comprensión de estos mecanismos podría otorgar conocimientos valiosos, capaces de mejorar nuestra capacidad predictiva, diagnóstica y terapéutica en relación a la esquizofrenia.
Background: Neuronal synchrony seems to be a central element in the unification ofbrain activity and the emergence ofconsciousness. It appears to be fundamental in the development of thought, attention, memory, motor actions and in the ability to perceive external and internal stimuli in a balanced and unified way. The dysfunction ofthese mechanisms could accountfor the disturbances that underlie schizophrenia. Objective: To provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying schizophrenia and give a critical vision about considering the alteration of neuronal synchrony as a core process in this disease. Methods: The results of several studies are summarized in the context ofa literature review. Results: Several studies indicate that alterations in the development of neural networks may have a fundamental role in schizophrenia, resulting in neuronal synchrony dysfunctions. These dysfunctions seem to determine the presence of hypoconnected, but also of hyperconnected regions, resulting in negative and positive symptoms, respectively. Conclusion: Neuronal synchrony seems to play a crucial role in information processing, brain integration and unified perception ofreality. The alteration of neuronal synchrony could be a central determinant in the development of this disease. Understanding these mechanisms could provide valuable knowledge for improving our predictive, diagnostic and therapeutic capacities in relation to schizophrenia.
RESUMEN
Background: Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetically based disorder caused by deletion of elastin and contiguous genes on chromosome 7q11.23. This syndrome is characterized by multiorganic involvement with dysmorphic facial features and a distinctive cognitive profile. It is an interesting model for elucidation of relationships between brain, cognition and genes. Patients have a visual-spatial cognition impaired with relative strengths in social and language abilities. Aim: To report clinical, cytogenetic, neurophysiological and neuroanatomic features in 44 patients referred as WS. Patients and methods: Forty four patients, aged 2 to 17 years, with the clinical diagnosis of Williams syndrome were studied with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In three cases, electrophysiological and neuroimaging studies were performed. Result: The deletion was confirmed in 23 patients. In three patients with neurophysiological studies, event related potentials suggested a cognitive difficulty in detecting and processing visual stimuli. Magnetic resonance imaging showed normal brain morphology. SPECT showed hypoperfusion of the right frontal lobe and bilateral anterior cingulum hyperperfusion. Conclusions: There are functional alterations in the brains of patients with Williams, which may be related to the cognitive deficits