Electrical analysis of logical complexity: an exploratory eeg study of logically valid/invalid deducive inference.

INTRODUCTION: Logically valid deductive arguments are clear examples of abstract recursive computational procedures on propositions or on probabilities. However, it is not known if the cortical time-consuming inferential processes in which logical arguments are eventually realized in the brain are in fact physically different from other kinds of inferential processes. METHODS: In order to determine whether an electrical EEG discernible pattern of logical deduction exists or not, a new experimental paradigm is proposed contrasting logically valid and invalid inferences with exactly the same content (same premises and same relational variables) and distinct logical complexity (propositional truth-functional operators). Electroencephalographic signals from 19 subjects (24.2 ± 3.3 years) were acquired in a two-condition paradigm (100 trials for each condition). After the initial general analysis, a trial-by-trial approach in beta-2 band allowed to uncover not only evoked but also phase asynchronous activity between trials. RESULTS: showed that (i) deductive inferences with the same content evoked the same response pattern in logically valid and invalid conditions, (ii) mean response time in logically valid inferences is 61.54% higher, (iii) logically valid inferences are subjected to an early (400 ms) and a late reprocessing (600 ms) verified by two distinct beta-2 activations (p-value < 0,01, Wilcoxon signed rank test). CONCLUSION: We found evidence of a subtle but measurable electrical trait of logical validity. Results put forward the hypothesis that some logically valid deductions are recursive or computational cortical events.

Efecto moderador de la creatividad en el rendimiento en memoria cotidiana en personas mayores / Moderating effect of creativity on everyday memory performance in the elderly

Antecedentes: la sociedad envejece a pasos agigantados y propone un reto importante al conjunto de profesionales, ya que una de las mayores preocupaciones en el transcurso de los años es la pérdida de funciones cognitivas como la memoria. Con base en ello, es relevante conocer qué estrategias pueden ayudar a preservar la capacidad mnésica de las personas mayores sanas. Objetivo: analizar el efecto moderador del constructo creatividad en la memoria cotidiana, así como el de la edad en una muestra de personas mayores sanas. Métodos: Participaron 106 personas mayores sanas y voluntarias provenientes de diferentes ciudades de España. Se les aplicó la prueba de creatividad CREA y la de memoria cotidiana RBMT. Resultados: La creatividad modera la pérdida de memoria en las personas mayores, en tanto que, por cada unidad de análisis de creatividad, aumenta la memoria. Lo contrario ocurre con la edad, al aumentar esta, la memoria disminuye. No se ha observado que la edad y la creatividad tengan un efecto de interacción conjunta sobre la memoria, actuando las dos por separado. Implicaciones: la creatividad puede ser incrementada en los programas de ocio y de intervención en psicoestimulación en el envejecimiento, ya que promover un contexto de actividades que fomenten la creatividad puede ser muy ventajoso para prevenir problemas de memoria en adultos mayores sanos. Se necesitan más estudios que ahonden en esta relación y el tipo de actividades concretas creativas que pueden ser beneficiosas y efectivas (AU)

Background: The society ages at a rapid pace proposing an important challenge to the group of professionals, since one of the biggest concerns over the years is the loss of cognitive functions such as memory. Based on this, it is relevant to know what strategies can help to preserve the mnemonic capacity of healthy elderly people. Objective: to analyze the moderator effect of the creativity construct in the daily memory, as well as the age effect in a sample of healthy elderly people. Methods 106 healthy and voluntary elderly people from different cities of Spain participated. The CREA creative test and the RBMT daily memory test were applied. Results: Creativity moderates memory loss in older people, while for each unit of creativity analysis, memory increases. The opposite happens with age, as it increases, memory decreases. It has not been found that age and creativity have a joint interaction effect on memory, acting both separately. Implications: creativity can be increased in leisure programs and intervention in psychostimulation in aging, since promoting a context of activities that promote creativity can be very advantageous to prevent memory problems in healthy older adults. More studies are needed that deepen this relationship and the type of concrete creative activities that can be beneficial and effective (AU)

Brain electrical traits of logical validity.

Neuroscience has studied deductive reasoning over the last 20 years under the assumption that deductive inferences are not only de jure but also de facto distinct from other forms of inference. The objective of this research is to verify if logically valid deductions leave any cerebral electrical trait that is distinct from the trait left by non-valid deductions. 23 subjects with an average age of 20.35 years were registered with MEG and placed into a two conditions paradigm (100 trials for each condition) which each presented the exact same relational complexity (same variables and content) but had distinct logical complexity. Both conditions show the same electromagnetic components (P3, N4) in the early temporal window (250-525 ms) and P6 in the late temporal window (500-775 ms). The significant activity in both valid and invalid conditions is found in sensors from medial prefrontal regions, probably corresponding to the ACC or to the medial prefrontal cortex. The amplitude and intensity of valid deductions is significantly lower in both temporal windows (p = 0.0003). The reaction time was 54.37% slower in the valid condition. Validity leaves a minimal but measurable hypoactive electrical trait in brain processing. The minor electrical demand is attributable to the recursive and automatable character of valid deductions, suggesting a physical indicator of computational deductive properties. It is hypothesized that all valid deductions are recursive and hypoactive.

Single Time-Point Study of the Home Environment and Functionality of Older Adults in Spain.

Background: The literature favors discussion on socio-spatial conditions at the macro- (city) and micro- (housing) level that promote healthy aging in place. Objectives: (a) Identify the association between physical and social characteristics of the family home and the functional level and quality of life of older people and (b) provide normative data on adequate/inadequate households based on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) inventory and the Spanish Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (S-IQCODE) test. Methods: In total, 79 healthy older adults completed the HOME inventory and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), S-IQCODE, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) and ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people (ICECAP-O) tests. A regression model, the effect size and the means of the scores of HOME (adequate/inadequate) test and the cognitive level (optimal/normal) were calculated. Results: The regression model discloses that adequate home scores are associated with cognitive level (odds ratio (OR): 0.955, confidence interval (CI)95%: 0.918-0.955); quality of life (OR: 6.542, CI95%: 1.750-24.457), living with other people (OR: 5.753, CI95%: 1.456-22.733) and level of education (OR: 0.252, CI95%: 0.064-0.991). The normative data between HOME and S-IQCODE scores showed a good adjustment (d = 0.70). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between the physical environment of the home and personal variables (sociodemographic information, quality of life and cognitive functionality). In addition, from this last variable, the normative data of an adequate/inadequate household for an older person have been established.

Localización cerebral del procesamiento semántico / Brain localization of semantic processing

Introducción. El procesamiento del contenido semántico se asocia al potencial N400, y el P600 se vincula con el procesamiento de reglas sintácticas y gramaticales. Objetivo. Verificar si el procesamiento semántico de estímulos visuales complejos, como la repetición, la identidad, el orden y la doble incongruencia, es recursivo o computable. Sujetos y métodos. Veintisiete universitarios respondieron a un paradigma adaptado N400 con cinco condiciones, cada una con 80 tareas, mientras se registraba su actividad cerebral con un gorro de 64 electrodos. Resultados. Dos ventanas temporales de 400 a 550 ms y de 550 a 800 ms se analizaron mediante un contraste ANOVA del factor condición por regiones de interés. Además, se calculó la solución inversa de las ventanas mediante tomografía electromagnética de baja resolución para identificar las fuentes corticales subyacentes a los potenciales eléctricos. Se corroboran diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) en los potenciales N400 y P600 en áreas frontales y centroparietales asociadas a los operadores lógicos estudiados. Conclusión. Se confirma que el procesamiento cerebral de imágenes complejas (congruentes/incongruentes) es modulado por la repetición, la identidad y el orden, pero no por la negación. Por consiguiente, se puede decir que el procesamiento semántico de imágenes complejas es semicomputable

Introduction. Semantic content processing is associated with the potential N400, and the P600 is linked with the processing of syntactic and grammatical rules. Aim. To verify whether the semantic processing of complex visual stimuli such as repetition, identity, order and double incongruence is recursive or computable. Subjects and methods. 27 university students responded to an adapted N400 paradigm with five conditions, each with 80 tasks, while recording their brain activity with a 64-channel cap. Results. Two temporal windows of 400 to 550 ms and 550 to 800 ms were analyzed using an ANOVA contrast of the condition factor by regions of interest. In addition, the inverse solution of the windows was calculated by low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) to identify the main sources related to the electrical power. The significant differences (p <0.05) in the results for the N400 and P600 in frontal and centroparietal areas in the logical operators studied are corroborated. Conclusion. It is confirmed that the brain processing of complex images is modulated by repetition, identity and order, but not by negation. Therefore, it can be said that the semantic processing of complex images is semi-computable