[Sleep and academic performance in university students: a systematic review]. / Sueño y rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios: revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: University students tend to suffer from problems of sleep regularity, quantity and quality, which can affect their academic performance. These problems are related to changes typical of the phase of the life cycle in which they find themselves due to maturational, psychosocial development (associated with the processes of individuation and socialisation) and academic factors. The study of the relationship between sleep and academic performance in university students is an area of research of growing interest, which has started to be studied over the last two decades. AIM: To conduct a systematic review of the existing literature on the relationship between sleep and academic performance in university students. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The articles included in the PubMed database were selected, following the PRISMA guidelines. Studies evaluating samples of subjects with an average age between 18 and 26 years, published in English or Spanish during the period 2000-2019 were included. Subsequently, the quality of the selected articles was evaluated according to the STROBE standard. RESULTS: Thirty studies were identified, which were grouped according to different aspects of sleep: drowsiness, duration, experience of total sleep deprivation, sleep quality, chronotype, regularity and sleep disorders. CONCLUSION: The results of these studies suggest that inadequate sleep has a negative effect on the academic performance of university students.

TITLE: Sueño y rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios: revisión sistemática.Introducción. Los estudiantes universitarios tienden a padecer problemas de regularidad, cantidad y calidad de sueño, que pueden afectar a su rendimiento académico. Estos problemas se relacionan con cambios propios de la fase del ciclo vital en la que se encuentran debido a diversos factores: madurativos, del desarrollo psicosocial (asociados con los procesos de individuación y socialización) y académicos. El estudio de la relación entre el sueño y el rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios es un área de investigación de interés creciente, que ha empezado a ser objeto de estudio en las últimas dos décadas. Objetivo. Revisión sistemática de la bibliografía existente sobre la relación del sueño y el rendimiento académico en los estudiantes universitarios. Sujetos y métodos. Se seleccionaron los artículos recogidos en la base de datos PubMed, siguiendo las directrices PRISMA. Se incluyeron los estudios que valoraban muestras de sujetos con una edad media entre 18 y 26 años, publicados en inglés o castellano, durante el período 2000-2019. Posteriormente, se evaluó la calidad de los artículos seleccionados siguiendo la normativa STROBE. Resultados. Se identificaron 30 estudios, que fueron agrupados según distintos aspectos del sueño: somnolencia, duración, experiencia de privación total de sueño, calidad de sueño, cronotipo, regularidad y trastornos del sueño. Conclusión. Los resultados de estos estudios sugieren que un sueño inadecuado afecta negativamente al rendimiento académico de los estudiantes universitarios.

[Recognition of facial expression of emotions in Parkinson's disease: a theoretical review]. / Reconocimiento de expresiones faciales de emociones en la enfermedad de Parkinson: una revision teorica.

INTRODUCTION: Emotional facial expression is a basic guide during social interaction and, therefore, alterations in their expression or recognition are important limitations for communication. AIM: To examine facial expression recognition abilities and their possible impairment in Parkinson's disease. DEVELOPMENT: First, we review the studies on this topic which have not found entirely similar results. Second, we analyze the factors that may explain these discrepancies and, in particular, as third objective, we consider the relationship between emotional recognition problems and cognitive impairment associated with the disease. Finally, we propose alternatives strategies for the development of studies that could clarify the state of these abilities in Parkinson's disease. CONCLUSIONS: Most studies suggest deficits in facial expression recognition, especially in those with negative emotional content. However, it is possible that these alterations are related to those that also appear in the course of the disease in other perceptual and executive processes. To advance in this issue, we consider necessary to design emotional recognition studies implicating differentially the executive or visuospatial processes, and/or contrasting cognitive abilities with facial expressions and non emotional stimuli. The precision of the status of these abilities, as well as increase our knowledge of the functional consequences of the characteristic brain damage in the disease, may indicate if we should pay special attention in their rehabilitation inside the programs implemented.

[Pharmacoresistant temporal-lobe epilepsy. Exploration with foramen ovale electrodes and surgical outcomes]. / Epilepsia farmacorresistente del lóbulo temporal. Exploración con electrodos del foramen oval y resultados quirúrgicos.

AIM: To report our experience in the surgical treatment of temporal-lobe epilepsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An analysis was performed of the outcomes of 137 patients submitted to surgery between 1990 and 2001, with a follow-up of more than two years. A study was conducted of the percentages of successful detection by the different complementary tests--MRI, EEG, interictal SPECT, video-EEG with foramen ovale electrodes (FOE), neuropsychological study (NPS)--and the precision with which they reported the epileptogenic focus. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Successful surgical outcomes (Engel grades I-II): 73.4%. No surgical mortality occurred, although some mild, reversible morbidity was observed. Surgical outcomes were not affected by sex, age, age of onset and the length of time the patient had had the disease, or the frequency of the seizures. No association was found between seizures in the immediate post-operative period and a poorer long term control of the epilepsy. MR images were normal in 25% of patients; in these cases the surgical outcomes (Engel grades I-II at two years: 62%) were significantly poorer than in cases of tumours/cavernomas (86%); RMI studies of other types of lesions gave intermediate results (72%). With respect to the capacity of the different tests to lateralise/locate the epileptogenic focus, video-EEG-FOE proved to be the best, followed by MRI, SPECT, EEG and NPS.

Epilepsia farmacorresistente del lóbulo temporal. Exploración con electrodos del foramen oval y resultados quirúrgicos / Pharmacoresistant temporal-lobe epilepsy. Exploration with foramen ovale electrodes and surgical outcomes

Objetivo. Presentar nuestra experiencia en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la epilepsia del lóbulo temporal. Pacientes y métodos. Se analizan resultados en 137 pacientes, intervenidos quirúrgicamente entre 1990 y 2001, con seguimiento mayor de dos años. Se estudia el porcentaje de aciertos de las pruebas complementarias-RM, EEG, SPECT interictal, vídeo-EEG con electrodos del foramen oval (EFO), estudio neuropsicológico (NPS)- y la precisión con que informaron del foco epileptógeno. Resultados y conclusiones. Éxitos quirúrgicos (grados I-II de Engel): 73,4%. No hubo mortalidad quirúrgica, aunque sí escasa morbilidad, leve yreversible. No modificaron los resultados quirúrgicos ni el sexo, edad, edad de comienzo y tiempo de desarrollo de la enfermedad, ni la frecuencia de las crisis. No encontramos asociación entre crisis en el postoperatorio inmediato y peor control de la epilepsia alargo plazo. La RM fue normal en el 25% de los pacientes; en ellos, los resultados quirúrgicos (grados I-II de Engel a los dos años: 62%) fueron significativamente peores que en los casos detumor/cavernoma (86%); ante otras lesiones en la RM, el resultado fue intermedio (72%). En relación a la capacidad lateralizadora/localizadora del foco epileptógeno de las diferentes pruebas, destaca el vídeo-EEG-EFO, seguido de la RM, SPECT, EEG y NPS

Aim. To report our experience in the surgical treatment of temporal-lobe epilepsy. Patients and methods. Ananalysis was performed of the outcomes of 137 patients submitted to surgery between 1990 and 2001, with a follow-up of more than two years. A study was conducted of the percentages of successful detection by the different complementary tests - MRI,EEG, interictal SPECT, video-EEG with foramen ovale electrodes (FOE), neuropsychological study (NPS) - and the precision with which they reported the epileptogenic focus. Results and conclusions. Successful surgical outcomes (Engel grades I-II):73.4%. No surgical mortality occurred, although some mild, reversible morbidity was observed. Surgical outcomes were not affected by sex, age, age of onset and the length of time the patient had had the disease, or the frequency of the seizures. No association was found between seizures in the immediate post-operative period and a poorer long term control of the epilepsy.MR images were normal in 25% of patients; in these cases the surgical outcomes (Engel grades I-II at two years: 62%) were significantly poorer than in cases of tumours/cavernomas (86%); RMI studies of other types of lesions gave intermediate results (72%). With respect to the capacity of the different tests to lateralise/locate the epileptogenic focus, video-EEG-FOE proved to be the best, followed by MRI, SPECT, EEG and NPS

[Neuropsychological data about children with autistic disorder and an intellectual development within what is considered to be a normal span of time]. / Datos neuropsicológicos de niños con trastorno autista y desarrollo intelectual en el intervalo considerado normal.

INTRODUCTION: Characteristic symptoms of autistic disorder (AD) can be the result of cognitive impairment which can be produced by specific neurological irregularities. Up until now a specific cognitive deficit in autism has not been found, although the majority of people with autism show intellectual impairment, verbal scores lower than manipulative measures and executive dysfunctions. AIMS: A neuropsychological evaluation of children with AD was planned. These children had intellectual abilities in the normal range. They were compared with two other groups, one with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NS), and the other from the general population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A battery of neuropsychological tests was carried out on five boys AD, five boys PDD-NS, and five boys of the general population. All of them were between 9 and 15 years old and their intellectual abilities were within the normal range. RESULTS: The children AD obtained verbal scores lower than their visual-perception scores. They also showed good dynamic coordination of movement. Scores in episodic memory tasks where executive strategies are needed were low. CONCLUSION: The characteristics described in the paper do not demonstrate a specific profile of the AD, but they can be useful in diagnoses and in planning treatment.

Datos neuropsicológicos de niños con trastorno autista y desarrollo intelectual en el intervalo considerado normal / Neuropsychological data about children with autistic disorder and an intellectual development within what is considered to be a normal span of time

Introducción. Los síntomas característicos del trastorno autista (TA) pueden ser el resultado de déficit cognitivos que, a su vez, derivan de alteraciones neurológicas específicas. Hasta el momento no se conoce ningún déficit cognitivo patognómico del autismo, aunque la mayoría de las veces presentan retraso mental, índices verbales inferiores a los manipulativos y disfunciones ejecutivas. Objetivo. Se planteó una valoración neuropsicológica de niños con TA con una inteligencia en el intervalo considerado típico, y se comparó con niños de la población general y con niños con trastorno generalizado del desarrollo no especificados (TGD-NE). Pacientes y métodos. Se aplicó una batería neuropsicológica a cinco niños con TA, a cinco niños con TGD-NE y a cinco niños de la población general. Todos ellos tenían entre 9 y 15 años, y su nivel intelectual se situaba en el intervalo considerado normal. Resultados. Los niños con TA mostraron un rendimiento verbal inferior al visuoperceptivo, buena coordinación dinámica del movimiento y un bajo rendimiento en tareas de memoria episódica que requieren estrategias ejecutivas. Conclusiones. Las características que se dan descrito no suponen un perfil específico del TA, sin ambargo, pueden resultar útiles para complementar el diagnóstico y fundamentar la rehabilitación

Introduction. Characteristic symptoms of autistic disorder (AD) can be the result of cognitive impairment which can be produced by specific neurological irregularities. Up until now a specific cognitive deficit in autism has not been found, although the majority of people with autism show intellectual impairment, verbal scores lower than manipulative measures and executive dysfunctions. Aims. A neuropsychological evaluation of children with AD was planned. These children had intellectual abilities in the normal range. They were compared with two other groups, one with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NS), and the other from the general population. Subjects and methods. A battery of neuropsychological tests was carried out on five boys AD, five boys PDD-NS, and five boys of the general population. All of them were between 9 and 15 years old and their intellectual abilities were within the normal range. Results. The children AD obtained verbal scores lower than their visual-perception scores. They also showed good dynamic coordination of movement. Scores in episodic memory tasks where executive strategies are needed were low. Conclusion. The characteristics described in the paper do not demostrate a specific profile of the AD, but they can be useful in diagnoses and in planning treatment

[Neuropsychological study of 8 to 15-year-old children with lateralised sub-clinical paroxysmal discharges and poor academic achievement]. / Estudio neuropsicológico de niños de 8 a 15 años que presentan descargas paroxísticas subclínicas lateralizadas y bajo rendimiento escolar.

Paroxysmal discharges have been observed in non epileptic children who, at the same time, display learning disorders. In this study our aim is to determine whether the association between sub clinical discharges (SCD) and learning disorders reflects specific neuropsychological deficiencies and, more particularly, whether the possible deficits are defined according to the brain hemisphere in which the paroxysmal activity is located. Neuropsychological evaluation was performed in 17 children between the ages of 8 and 15, with unspecific learning disorders, who presented sub clinical paroxysmal discharges localised in the left hemisphere (nine cases) or in the right hemisphere (eight cases). The children with paroxysmal activity in the left hemisphere obtained similar results to those in which it was found on the right, except in the tests that evaluate visuo constructive skills, in which their scores were higher, and in the executive function tasks, in which they displayed a deficit that was not observed in the children with paroxysmal activity in the right hemisphere. We interpreted the presence of SCD discharges in the left hemisphere as reflecting a slower or more deficient process of brain maturation, which could be compensated with a suitable programme of neuropsychological intervention.

Estudio neuropsicológico de niños de 8 a 15 años que presentan descargas paroxísticas subclínicas lateralizadas y bajo rendimiento escolar / Neuropsychological study of 8 to 15-year-old children with lateralised sub-clinical paroxysmal discharges and poor academic achievement

Introducción. Se han observado descargas paroxísticas en niños no epilépticos que presentan, al mismo tiempo, trastornos de aprendizaje. En este trabajo nos proponemos determinar si dicha asociación entre descargas subclínicas (DSC) y trastornos de aprendizaje refleja déficit neuropsicológicos concretos y, particularmente, si los posibles déficit se definen en función del hemisferio cerebral en el que se localiza la actividad paroxística. Pacientes y métodos. Realizamos una evaluación neuropsicológica a 17 niños de edades comprendidas entre los 8 y los 15 años, con trastorno inespecífico del aprendizaje, que presentaban descargas paroxísticas subclínicas localizadas en el hemisferio izquierdo (nueve casos) o en el hemisferio derecho (ocho casos). Resultados. Los niños que presentaban la actividad paroxística en el hemisferio izquierdo obtuvieron resultados semejantes a los niños que la presentaban en el derecho, salvo en las pruebas que evalúan habilidades visuoconstructivas, en las que sus puntuaciones fueron superiores, y en las pruebas sobre funciones ejecutivas, en las cuales mostraron déficit que no se observaron en los niños que presentaban la actividad paroxística en el hemisferio derecho. Discusión. Interpretamos que la presencia de DSC en el hemisferio izquierdo refleja un proceso de maduración cerebral más lento o deficitario, que podría compensarse con un programa adecuado de intervención neuropsicológica (AU)

Paroxysmal discharges have been observed in non-epileptic children who, at the same time, display learning disorders. In this study our aim is to determine whether the association between sub-clinical discharges (SCD) and learning disorders reflects specific neuropsychological deficiencies and, more particularly, whether the possible deficits are defined according to the brain hemisphere in which the paroxysmal activity is located. Neuropsychological evaluation was performed in 17 children between the ages of 8 and 15, with unspecific learning disorders, who presented sub-clinical paroxysmal discharges localised in the left hemisphere (nine cases) or in the right hemisphere (eight cases). The children with paroxysmal activity in the left hemisphere obtained similar results to those in which it was found on the right, except in the tests that evaluate visuo-constructive skills, in which their scores were higher, and in the executive function tasks, in which they displayed a deficit that was not observed in the children with paroxysmal activity in the right hemisphere. We interpreted the presence of SCD discharges in the left hemisphere as reflecting a slower or more deficient process of brain maturation, which could be compensated with a suitable programme of neuropsychological intervention (AU)

[Hemispheric dominance for language and functional magnetic resonance: a comparison of three tasks]. / Dominancia hemisférica para el lenguaje y resonancia magnética funcional: comparación de tres tareas.

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study to analyse and compare the efficacy of the classic language tasks (repetition, phonological fluency and lexical decision), for the purpose of identifying the dominant hemisphere for language by means of functional magnetic resonance. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The three tasks were performance with a groups of 10 right handed subjects with ages of 22 to 40 years. The examination was carried out using a 1,5 T MRI apparatus. An eight sequence of planar echo gradient (BOLD technique) was used, making the oblique axial plane coincide with the line between the anterior and posterior commissures (CA CP line) and covering the entire brain. RESULTS: Dominance was calculated by means of the lateralization index, comparing the activation in each hemisphere in two locations: first, taking account the temporal lobe together with the right and left frontal lobes, and second, taking into account only the right and left frontal lobes. CONCLUSION: The result indicate that the most effective test for obtaining the dominant hemisphere was the one for phonological fluency, this task activated the frontal areas, which showed greater participation in the left hemisphere.

Dominancia hemisférica para el lenguaje y resonancia magnética funcional: comparación de tres tareas / Hemispheric dominance for language and functional magnetic resonance: a comparison of three tasks

Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar y comparar la eficacia de tres tareas clásicas del lenguaje, la de repetición, la de fluidez fonológica y la de decisión léxica, con el fin de identificar el hemisferio dominante para el lenguaje mediante una resonancia magnética (RM) funcional. Sujetos y métodos. Las tres tareas se realizaron a un grupo de 10 sujetos diestros con edades comprendidas entre 22 y 40 años, para cuya evaluación se empleó un aparato de RM de 1,5 T, en ocho secuencias de gradiente eco planar (técnica BOLD) que se hicieron en el plano axial oblicuo, y que coincidían con la línea entre la comisura anterior y la posterior y cubrían todo el cerebro (línea CA-CP). Resultados. La dominancia se calculó mediante el índice de lateralización, al comparar la activación en cada hemisferio en dos situaciones. En primer lugar, se tuvo en cuenta el lóbulo temporal y el frontal derechos e izquierdos, y en segundo lugar, sólo los lóbulos frontales derechos e izquierdos. Conclusiones. Los resultados que se obtuvieron indican que la prueba más efectiva para obtener el hemisferio dominante es la de fluidez fonológica, y que la activación de las áreas frontales muestra una mayor participación del hemisferio izquierdo (AU)

[Memory disorders in epileptic patients. A study of pre-postsurgical follow-up]. / Alteraciones de memoria en pacientes epilépticos. Estudio de seguimiento pre-posquirúrgico.

In general terms, epileptic patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) show mnesic deficits. In the case of medically intractable epilepsy (around 20%) the neurosurgery intervention is a widely accepted treatment. The cognitive effects of surgery have been reported in last years; they emphasize the mnesic positive changes of contralateral area. In the same sense they have reported a negative change on mnesic modality in ipsilateral area. This paper present a study in which the mnesic deficits of twenty eight pharmaco resistant epileptic patients have been evaluated and followed up. These patients have been submittes to a surgical treatment at the Epilepsy Surgical Unit of the Hospital de La Princesa (Madrid). The assessment pre and postoperative tested six months apart. The most common cognitive deficit affect bimodally to mnesic functions: so in the verbal as in the visospatial modality. This deficit correlated with the years epilepsy. Meanwhile, the following up study indicates that a relevant numbers of these patients show an improvement in the function of the contralateral hemisphere with respect to the area surgically treated. This finding probably is the consequence of seizure free.