Influencia familiar en el desarrollo de habilidades para el procesamiento numérico en niños preescolares / Family influence on the development of number processing skills in preschool children / Influência da família no desenvolvimento de habilidades de processamento numérico em crianças pré-escolares

RESUMEN Introducción: La competencia en matemáticas se encuentra relacionada con el desarrollo de habilidades básicas para el procesamiento numérico (simbólico y no simbólico) desde etapas tempranas del desarrollo y antes de la escolarización formal. Existe evidencia a favor de que el ambiente del hogar proporciona experiencias que facilitan la adquisición de habilidades específicas relacionadas con las matemáticas. Objetivo: Identificar actividades y estilos de relación presentes en el marco familiar que son buenos predictores del procesamiento numérico y el rendimiento aritmético de niños preescolares cubanos. Método: Entre septiembre y noviembre de 2019 se evaluaron 82 preescolares cubanos y sus padres a través de un estudio no experimental de tipo transeccional, con un carácter descriptivo-correlacional. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron el Numeracy Screener y Cuestionario para Padres, ambos adaptados al contexto cubano en el Centro de Neurociencias de Cuba. Resultados: El desarrollo de habilidades específicas para el procesamiento numérico básico, en formato simbólico y no simbólico, predijo de forma significativa el rendimiento matemático en la muestra estudiada. Se confirmó que la presencia en el marco familiar de estilos de relación y actividades que incluyen contenido numérico y cuantitativo, favorece el desarrollo de habilidades para el procesamiento numérico en los niños preescolares. Conclusiones: Entre los factores más significativos se encontraron: escolaridad de los padres, sus experiencias y actitudes hacia las matemáticas y la frecuencia con que comparten prácticas formales numéricas con sus hijos en el hogar.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Competence in mathematics is related to the development of basic skills for number processing (symbolic and non-symbolic) from early stages of development and before formal schooling. There is evidence that the home environment provides experiences that facilitate the acquisition of specific math-related skills. Objective: To identify activities and relationship styles present in the family setting that are good predictors of numerical processing and arithmetic performance in Cuban preschool children. Method: Between September and November 2019, 82 Cuban preschoolers and their parents were evaluated through a non-experimental transactional study, with a descriptive-correlational nature. The instruments used were the Numeracy Screener and Parent Questionnaire, both adapted to the Cuban context at the Centro de Neurociencias de Cuba. Results: The development of specific skills for basic numerical processing, in symbolic and non-symbolic format, significantly predicted mathematical performance in the sample studied. It was confirmed that the presence in the family of relationship styles and activities that include numerical and quantitative content favors the development of numerical processing skills in preschool children. Conclusions: Among the most significant factors found were: parental education, their experiences and attitudes towards mathematics and the frequency with which they share formal numerical practices with their children at home.

RESUMO Introdução: A competência em matemática está relacionada ao desenvolvimento de habilidades básicas para processamento de números (simbólicos e não simbólicos) desde as fases iniciais do desenvolvimento e antes da escolarização formal. Há evidências de que o ambiente domiciliar proporciona experiências que facilitam a aquisição de habilidades específicas relacionadas à matemática. Objetivo: Identificar atividades e estilos de relacionamento presentes no ambiente familiar que sejam bons preditores de processamento numérico e desempenho aritmético em crianças pré-escolares cubanas. Método: Entre setembro e novembro de 2019, 82 pré-escolares cubanos e seus pais foram avaliados por meio de um estudo transacional não experimental, de natureza descritivo-correlacional. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Numeracy Screener e o Parent Questionnaire, ambos adaptados ao contexto cubano no Centro de Neurociencias de Cuba. Resultados: O desenvolvimento de habilidades específicas para processamento numérico básico, em formato simbólico e não simbólico, predisse significativamente o desempenho matemático na amostra estudada. Confirmou-se que a presença na família de estilos de relacionamento e atividades que incluem conteúdos numéricos e quantitativos favorece o desenvolvimento de habilidades de processamento numérico em crianças pré-escolares. Conclusiones: Entre os fatores mais significativos foram encontrados: a educação dos pais, suas experiências e atitudes em relação à matemática e a frequência com que compartilham práticas numéricas formais com seus filhos em casa.

Text segmentation ability predicts future reading efficiency in Spanish-speaking children.

Can the ability to parse unspaced texts (measured by a Text Segmentation Task, TST) index and predict reading efficiency in Spanish-speaking children? A sample of 1112 children (1st to 6th grade) was assessed. Additionally, two subsamples (51 children of 4th-5th grades and 71 children of 1st grade) were followed up. Our results indicate that the TST: a) reflects the acquisition of reading over primary school grades; b) reflects the teacher's judgment about the child's reading development; c) accurately predicts oral reading efficiency one and four years later year, in the former case even after removing the contributions of the IQ and oral reading speed. These results indicate that TST can be used to both index present -and predict future- reading achievements.

Functional Connectivity and Quantitative EEG in Women with Alcohol Use Disorders: A Resting-State Study.

This study was aimed at exploring the electroencephalographic features associated with alcohol use disorders (AUD) during a resting-state condition, by using quantitative EEG and Functional Connectivity analyses. In addition, we explored whether EEG functional connectivity is associated with trait impulsivity. Absolute and relative powers and Synchronization Likelihood (SL) as a measure of functional connectivity were analyzed in 15 AUD women and fifteen controls matched in age, gender and education. Correlation analysis between self-report impulsivity as measured by the Barratt impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and SL values of AUD patients were performed. Our results showed increased absolute and relative beta power in AUD patients compared to matched controls, and reduced functional connectivity in AUD patients predominantly in the beta and alpha bands. Impaired connectivity was distributed at fronto-central and occipito-parietal regions in the alpha band, and over the entire scalp in the beta band. We also found that impaired functional connectivity particularly in alpha band at fronto-central areas was negative correlated with non-planning dimension of impulsivity. These findings suggest that functional brain abnormalities are present in AUD patients and a disruption of resting-state EEG functional connectivity is associated with psychopathological traits of addictive behavior.