Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía

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Diagnostic accuracy and practical utility of depression screening questionnaires across renal replacement therapy modalities
(Elsevier, 2026) Vázquez Rodríguez, María Isabel; García Becerra, Lorena; Calviño, Jesús; Bouza, Pablo; Otero-Alonso, Pablo; Arza, María Dolores; Salgado Barreira, Ángel; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psiquiatría, Radioloxía, Saúde Pública, Enfermaría e Medicina
Background. Depression is common yet underdiagnosed in patients receiving renal replacement therapies (RRT). Several questionnaires have shown utility for depression screening, mainly among in-centre haemodialysis patients; however, no instruments have been evaluated for diagnostic accuracy in home dialysis or kidney transplant populations. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of the Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition (BDI-II), the Beck Depression Inventory–Fast Screen (BDI-FS), and the Depression Subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) across RRT modalities and to identify the most efficient tool for clinical use. Methods. Adult patients across RRT modalities completed the BDI-II, BDI-FS, and HADS-D, and were evaluated with the Structured Clinical Interview as the reference standard. Results. Among the 203 included patients (mean age 67.3 years; 65% male), 18.2% met SCID-I criteria for depression. Optimal cut-offs were BDI-II ≥15 for in-centre haemodialysis and ≥ 16 for home dialysis and transplantation; BDI-FS ≥3 for in-centre and home dialysis and ≥ 4 for transplantation; and HADS-D ≥ 5 for in-centre haemodialysis and ≥ 6 for home dialysis and transplantation. Sensitivity and negative predictive values exceeded 90% for all instruments except the HADS-D, which showed lower sensitivity in transplanted (86.7%) and home dialysis patients (70%). Conclusions. The BDI-II, BDI-FS, and HADS-D are useful for depression screening in renal populations, though the HADS-D demonstrated reduced performance in home dialysis. Standard cut-offs were inadequate, and modality-specific thresholds improved diagnostic accuracy. The BDI-FS, combining strong accuracy with brevity and ease of use, emerged as the most efficient tool for routine screening across RRT modalities.
Heterogeneity of early-onset conduct problems: assessing different profiles, predictors and outcomes across childhood
(BioMed Central, 2025-04-16) Díaz Vázquez, Beatriz; Álvarez Voces, María; Romero Triñanes, Estrella; López-Romero, Laura; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Psicoloxía (IPsiUS)
Background: Among early-onset conduct problems (CP), associated with more disruptive behaviors of greater intensity and stability, several domains have been proposed from a variable-centered perspective to capture their heterogeneity: oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and callous-unemotional traits (CU). Using a person-centered approach, the present study aims to identify distinct profiles of child CP, examining different predictors and developmental outcomes. Methods: Data included parent- and teacher-reported questionnaires from an ongoing longitudinal study (ELISA). Latent profiles were identified first in a community sample (n = 2,103; age 4–8 years; 50.9% boys) and replicated in a high-CP subsample (n = 168; 70.24% boys). Results: Four profiles emerged in the community sample (Normative Development, Daring/Impulsive, Low prosociality + Fear; Low prosociality + Psychopathic Traits [PP]), and three in the high-CP sample (same except the normative). The identified CP profiles aligned with the ADHD and CU domains, but not the ODD domain. Differences in activity, punitive and inconsistent parenting emerge as the most significant predictors. Regarding the outcomes, the Low prosociality + PP profile stands out as the group with the most severe emotional, social and behavioral maladjustment. Conclusions: These findings highlight the heterogeneity within CP, and the importance of designing specific and tailored interventions for each identified profile.
Self-efficacy and sex influences on the relationship between tobacco dependence and long-term abstinence: a moderated mediation approach
(Springer Nature Link, 2026-01-19) López Durán, Ana; Martínez Vispo, Carmela; Suárez Castro, Daniel; Barroso Hurtado, María; Míguez Varela, María del Carmen; Becoña Iglesias, Elisardo; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Psicoloxía (IPsiUS)
Tobacco dependence and abstinence self-efficacy are interrelated, and both are relevant variables for quitting smoking. Previous literature suggests that sex may also be a key factor in this relationship. This study aims to examine the relationship between tobacco dependence, self-efficacy and 12-months abstinence, and to explore the role of sex in this relationship. A total sample of 288 adult treatment-seeking daily smokers (Mage = 45.8, SD = 10.63; 62.5% females) was used. Participants were enrolled in a cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation treatment and were followed during a one-year period. We found a negative correlation between baseline tobacco dependence and smoking self-efficacy at the end of the intervention. Mediation analysis showed a significant indirect effect of tobacco dependence on quitting smoking via self-efficacy (B = -0.162, SE = 0.053, 95% BootCI [-0.287, -0.082]). We also found that sex significantly moderated the relationship between baseline tobacco dependence and self-efficacy at the end of the intervention. This result indicates that the indirect effect of tobacco dependence on quitting success through smoking self-efficacy was significant for females (B = -0.239, SE = 0.069, 95% BootCI [-0.402, -0.131]), but not for males. Self-efficacy has key role in the association between tobacco dependence and long-term abstinence, being particularly relevant for females. These findings contribute to understanding the role of tobacco dependence on abstinence, which is a well-known barrier to smoking cessation, and have several clinical implications as focusing on post-treatment self-efficacy in those with higher dependence could be relevant to improving the effectiveness of interventions to quit.
LEAP2 acts in hepatocytes and at central level, alleviates steatosis and inflammation but resistance in obese and aging
(Elsevier, 2026-01-20) Varela Miguéns, Marta; Quintela Vilariño, Carmen; Casado Masa, Sabela; Oliveira Diz, Tadeu de; Müller, Timo D.; Nogueiras Pozo, Rubén; Diéguez González, Carlos; Tovar Carro, Sulay A.; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas (CiMUS); Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Fisioloxía
Scope. Global increase in obesity and metabolic syndrome has led to a marked rise in comorbidities, with liver disease emerging as a major concern. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects over 30% of the population, making it the most prevalent liver disorder worldwide. Hepatic steatosis, hallmark of MAFLD, can progress to inflammation, fibrosis, steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis. Despite advances in elucidating its mechanisms, no effective pharmacological therapy exists to reverse disease progression. Ghrelin signaling axis has been implicated in energy and lipid homeostasis, and the recent identification of liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) as an endogenous ghrelin receptor antagonist and inverse agonist has generated interest in its potential role in liver metabolism. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate LEAP2 on hepatocyte lipid metabolism and determine its capacity to prevent diet- and age-induced steatosis in vivo. Methods and results. We investigated LEAP2 actions on hepatocyte lipid metabolism using human and mouse hepatocyte cultures, also we did in vivo studies in mice with chronic central LEAP2 administration in models of diet-induced and age-related steatosis. LEAP2 inhibited lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and reduced hepatic lipid deposition in mice fed a standard diet. However, LEAP2 did not prevent high-fat diet–induced steatosis in young mice although it attenuated hepatic inflammation. In aged animals, LEAP2 failed to suppress age-associated inflammation and steatosis. Conclusion. LEAP2 has been identified as a novel regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism with the potential to counteract inflammation-associated steatosis, although its effects on age-related steatosis appear limited. Targeting the LEAP2–ghrelin axis may represent a promising therapeutic strategy; however, further studies are required to determine its efficacy in diet-induced hepatic disease.
Del delirio a la flexibilidad psicológica: aplicación de la terapia de aceptación y compromiso
(Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Madrid, 2025) Argudo Palacios, Aarón; Sadek El Shahat, Omneia; Gómez Fraguela, Xosé Antón; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía
La psicosis en sus etapas iniciales puede manifestarse con síntomas ansioso-depresivos que afectan al funcionamiento y a la calidad de vida. Este estudio de caso presenta a un joven de 27 años con un primer episodio psicótico, cuyos síntomas atenuados pero persistentes generaban ansiedad y afectaban a su estado emocional. A lo largo de 12 sesiones utilizando la terapia de aceptación y compromiso, se trabajó en la mejora de la flexibilidad cognitiva, el manejo de la ansiedad y la depresión, así como en el compromiso con acciones alineadas con los valores personales. Se observó mejora clínica, evaluada mediante el índice de cambio fiable y los puntos de corte establecidos, que sugiere la efectividad de ACT en el manejo de la sintomatología ansioso-depresiva asociada a un trastorno psicótico incipiente. Los resultados apuntan a que la terapia de aceptación y Compromiso puede ser una intervención efectiva para mejorar la calidad de vida y el bienestar emocional en individuos que enfrentan este tipo de trastornos.
From binge drinking to future alcohol severity: The role of emotion regulation and emerging psychopathology
(Elsevier, 2026-02-26) Carbia, Carina; Rodríguez González, María Soledad; Suárez Suárez, Samuel; Doallo Pesado, Sonia; Cadaveira Mahía, Fernando; Corral Varela, María Montserrat; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Psicoloxía (IPsiUS)
Objectives: Binge drinking (BD) increases the risk for alcohol use disorders and other psychopathological disorders later in life. Emotion regulation (ER) deficits have been identified as a transdiagnostic risk factor, yet their role in risk trajectories is not well established. This is especially relevant in young BDs initially free of psychopathology, where emerging symptoms may shape risk trajectories toward severe alcohol use. Thus, this study examined whether ER difficulties mediate the link between BD and later alcohol severity, and whether emerging psychopathology moderates these associations during the critical developmental period of late adolescence. Methods: A total of 192 university students (53% female) were followed over two years, from ages 18 to 20. Individuals with psychopathological symptoms or alcohol-related problems were excluded at baseline. Alcohol consumption patterns were assessed together with ER (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale), and psychopathology (Brief Symptom Inventory). Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS in SPSS. Results: BD was associated with ER difficulties, particularly problems engaging in goal-directed behaviour. ER difficulties partially mediated the relationship between BD and later alcohol severity. Emerging psychopathological symptoms amplified both the direct effect of BD and the indirect effect through ER. Specifically, ER difficulties predicted alcohol severity only among individuals with elevated psychopathological symptoms. Conclusions: Findings suggest that ER difficulties, especially goal-directed behaviour, mediate the progression from BD to alcohol severity, and that emerging psychopathology during late adolescence heightens this risk. Preventive interventions should target both BD and ER skills in youth, particularly those developing early psychopathological symptoms.
Within-person prospective associations between depressive symptoms, abstinence self-efficacy and smoking cessation following smoking cessation treatment
(Elsevier, 2025-12-12) Ramos Carro, María; Rodríguez Cano, Rubén; Martínez Vispo, Carmela; López Durán, Ana; Becoña Iglesias, Elisardo; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Psicoloxía (IPsiUS)
Background: Abstinence self-efficacy and depressive symptoms have independently been associated with smoking outcomes in previous research. However, their bidirectional relationships with smoking abstinence over time remain underexplored. This study examined bidirectional and prospective associations between depressive symptoms, abstinence self-efficacy, and smoking abstinence from the end of a cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation intervention to 12-month follow-up. Methods: This study was conducted with 685 adults (62.04 % female; Mage=45.51) who sought smoking cessation treatment at the Smoking Cessation and Addictive Disorders Unit (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain). Abstinence was defined as not smoking, not even a puff, in the prior 24 h at the end of the intervention and not smoking in the prior 7 days at each follow-up. A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model was performed to examine the bidirectional and prospective associations between study variables. Results: At the within-person level, smoking abstinence at posttreatment and 3-month follow-up predicted greater abstinence self-efficacy and fewer depressive symptoms at 3- and 6-month follow-up, respectively. In contrast, higher abstinence self-efficacy at posttreatment was associated with lower odds of abstinence at 3-month follow-up, and abstinence self-efficacy at 3 months predicted more depressive symptoms at 6 months. Depressive symptoms did not significantly predict abstinence self-efficacy or smoking abstinence in the cross-lagged associations at any time point. Conclusion: Quitting smoking predicts higher abstinence self-efficacy and lower depressive symptoms after posttreatment, but these effects diminish after 6-month follow-up. Notably, higher levels of abstinence self-efficacy at the end of treatment may increase smoking risk during the first three months postquitting.
Brain Electrical Activity Associated With Visual Attention and Reactive Motor Inhibition in Patients With Fibromyalgia
(American Psychosomatic Society, 2019-05) González Villar, Alberto Jacobo; Arias, Manuel; Carrillo de la Peña, María Teresa; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía
Objective: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a generalized chronic pain condition associated with multiple cognitive impairments, including altered inhibitory processes. Inhibition is a key component of human executive functions and shares neural substrate with pain processing, which may explain the inhibitory deficits in FM. Here, we investigated the integrity of brain inhibitory mechanisms in these patients. Methods: We recorded the electroencephalographic activity of 27 patients with FM and 27 healthy controls (HCs) (all women) while they performed a reactive motor inhibition task (the stop-signal paradigm). We analyzed task-induced modulations in electrophysiological markers related to inhibition (N2, P3, and midfrontal theta oscillations) and visual attention (posterior alpha oscillations). Results: The FM group performed the task correctly, with no differences relative to HCs at the behavioral level. We did not find any between-group differences in N2 amplitude (F(1,52) = 0.01, p = .93), P3 amplitude (F(1,52) = 3.46; p = .068), or theta power (F(1,52) = 0.05; p = .82). However, modulation of posterior alpha power after presentation of either the go or stop stimuli was lower in patients than in HCs (F(1,52) = 7.98; p = .007). Conclusions: N2, P3, theta power, and behavioral results indicate that the mechanisms of motor inhibition are sufficiently preserved to enable correct performance of the stop-signal task in patients with FM. Nevertheless, the lower modulation of alpha suggests greater difficulty in mobilizing and maintaining visual attentional resources, a result that may explain the cognitive dysfunction observed in FM.
When the brain simulates stopping: Neural activity recorded during real and imagined stop-signal tasks
(Springer, 2016-05-09) González Villar, Alberto Jacobo; Bonilla, Mauricio F.; Carrillo de la Peña, María Teresa; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía
It has been suggested that mental rehearsal activates brain areas similar to those activated by real performance. Although inhibition is a key function of human behavior, there are no previous reports of brain activity during imagined response cancellation. We analyzed event-related potentials (ERPs) and time–frequency data associated with motor execution and inhibition during real and imagined performance of a stop-signal task. The ERPs characteristic of stop trials—that is, the stop-N2 and stop-P3—were also observed during covert performance of the task. Imagined stop (IS) trials yielded smaller stop-N2 amplitudes than did successful stop (SS) and unsuccessful stop (US) trials, but midfrontal theta power similar to that in SS trials. The stop-P3 amplitude for IS was intermediate between those observed for SS and US. The results may be explained by the absence of error-processing and correction processes during imagined performance. For go trials, real execution was associated with higher mu and beta desynchronization over motor areas, which confirms previous reports of lower motor activation during imagined execution and also with larger P3b amplitudes, probably indicating increased top-down attention to the real task. The similar patterns of activity observed for imagined and real performance suggest that imagination tasks may be useful for training inhibitory processes. Nevertheless, brain activation was generally weaker during mental rehearsal, probably as a result of the reduced engagement of top-down mechanisms and limited error processing.
Brain electrical activity signatures during performance of the Multisource Interference Task
(Wiley, 2017-02-21) González Villar, Alberto Jacobo; Carrillo de la Peña, María Teresa; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía
The Multisource Interference Task (MSIT) was developed to test cognitive control in normal and pathological conditions and has become a reliable tool for exploring the integrity of cingulo-frontal-parietal cognitive/attentional networks in fMRI studies. Analysis of EEG recordings made during performance of the MSIT may provide additional information about the temporal dynamics of cognitive control. However, this has not yet been investigated in depth. In this study, we analyzed the ERPs and carried out time-frequency decomposition of EEG recorded during control and interference conditions of the MSIT. The N2 ERP component and midfrontal theta power (both considered neural signatures of conflict processing) were significantly larger in interference than in control trials. Theta also showed higher phase synchronization between midfrontal and right frontolateral scalp locations in the interference condition, supporting the view that this frequency band entrains additional brain resources when a need for greater control arises. In interference trials, we also observed longer P3 latency, larger P3 amplitude, and greater reduction of posterior alpha (modulations related to allocation of attentional resources), in addition to a greater reduction of central beta power (related to motor preparation). In conclusion, the MSIT reliably modulated brain electrical activity related to cognitive control and attention. The EEG indices obtained during the performance of this task may be useful for exploring the functioning of cognitive/attentional networks in healthy and clinical populations
Brain processing of task-relevant and task-irrelevant emotional words: An ERP study
(Springer, 2014-01-31) González Villar, Alberto Jacobo; Triñanes, Yolanda; Zurrón Ocio, Montserrat; Carrillo de la Peña, María Teresa; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía
Although there is evidence for preferential perceptual processing of written emotional information, the effects of attentional manipulations and the time course of affective processing require further clarification. In this study, we attempted to investigate how the emotional content of words modulates cerebral functioning (event-related potentials, ERPs) and behavior (reaction times, RTs) when the content is task-irrelevant (emotional Stroop Task, EST) or task-relevant (emotional categorization task, ECT), in a sample of healthy middle-aged women. In the EST, the RTs were longer for emotional words than for neutral words, and in the ECT, they were longer for neutral and negative words than for positive words. A principal components analysis of the ERPs identified various temporospatial factors that were differentially modified by emotional content. P2 was the first emotion-sensitive component, with enhanced factor scores for negative nouns across tasks. The N2 and late positive complex had enhanced factor scores for emotional relative to neutral information only in the ECT. The results reinforce the idea that written emotional information has a preferential processing route, both when it is task-irrelevant (producing behavioral interference) and when it is task-relevant (facilitating the categorization). After early automatic processing of the emotional content, late ERPs become more emotionally modulated as the level of attention to the valence increases
Neurofunctional correlates of the tip-of-the-tongue state
(Cambridge University Press, 2016-10) Díaz Fernández, Fernando; Lindín Novo, Mónica; Galdo Álvarez, Santiago; Buján Mera, Ana; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Psicoloxía (IPsiUS); Schwartz, Bennett L.; Brown, Alan S.
Materialism, life-satisfaction and addictive buying: Examining the causal relationships
(Elsevier, 2011) Otero López, Xosé Manuel; Villardefrancos Pol, Estíbaliz; Castro Bolaño, Cristina; Santiago Mariño, María José; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía
There is a widespread consensus in the literature as to the interrelations between materialism, life satisfaction and addictive buying. The field of study, however, requires models that throw light on the channels of influence existing among these variables. The main objective of the present study was therefore to examine the mediational role of life satisfaction on the relationship between materialism dimensions and addictive buying. The results obtained from a structural equation analysis using a sample of 469 women partially confirm the suitability of the mediating variable model proposed. Specifically, life satisfaction channels the influence of the facets of success and happiness in addictive buying while the acquisition importance dimension has a direct effect on addictive buying. Finally, results are discussed and potential avenues for further research are suggested
The Simon effect modulates N2cc and LRP but not the N2pc component
(Elsevier, 2012-05) Cespón, Jesús; Galdo Álvarez, Santiago; Díaz Fernández, Fernando; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Psicoloxía (IPsiUS)
Previous studies have reported that the horizontal arrangement of the stimuli in Simon tasks elicits three different components: LRP, N2pc and N2cc. Although N2cc may play a key role in Simon tasks, as it is involved in preventing responses based on stimulus position, modulation of the N2cc component according to the experimental conditions has not previously been investigated because of N2cc/LRP overlap in similar regions and temporal window. The aim of the present study was to investigate how the Simon effect modulates N2pc, N2cc and LRP components. For this purpose, participants were asked to respond to an arrow according to its colour. Three conditions, which depended on the congruency between stimulus position and the required response, were analysed: compatible position (CP), incompatible position (IP), and neutral position (NP). The LRP peak latency was delayed in IP with respect to CP and NP conditions. Lateralized minus neutral position (L – NP) subtractions were carried out to remove the common motor activity and isolate the N2cc and N2pc components in the lateralized conditions. The N2cc amplitude in L − NP waveforms was larger in IP than in CP, in accordance with the greater effort required to monitor selection of the correct response in the first condition. eLORETA analysis also revealed greater premotor activity at 150–200 ms in IP and CP, than in NP, which was attributed to the N2cc component present in IP/CP conditions. Evidence of functional dissociation between N2pc and N2cc components was obtained, because N2cc, but not N2pc, was affected by the experimental conditions
N2pc is modulated by stimulus-stimulus, but not by stimulus-response incompatibilities
(Elsevier, 2013-04) Cespón, Jesús; Galdo Álvarez, Santiago; Díaz Fernández, Fernando; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Psicoloxía (IPsiUS)
Studies of the N2pc in Simon-type tasks have revealed inconsistent results. That is, N2pc was only modulated when a stimulus–stimulus (S-S) overlap covaries with the stimulus–response (S-R) overlap. The present study aimed to establish whether N2pc is modulated by the S-R or by the S-S overlap. Therefore, we designed a Simon task requiring response to a colour stimulus (an arrow) with two irrelevant dimensions (position and direction). The following conditions were thus generated: compatible direction–compatible position (CDCP); incompatible direction–compatible position (IDCP); compatible direction–incompatible position (CDIP); and incompatible direction–incompatible position (IDIP). In IDCP and CDIP, both irrelevant dimensions conveyed contradictory spatial information (S-S incompatibility), while compatibility between both irrelevant dimensions occurred in CDCP and IDIP (the direction indicated was compatible with stimulus position). The N2pc amplitude was smaller in IDCP and CDIP than in CDCP and IDIP, what suggests that N2pc was modulated by S-S incompatibility and not by S-R incompatibilities
Similarities and differences between interference from stimulus position and from direction of the arrow: Behavioral and event-related potential measures
(Elsevier, 2013-11) Cespón, Jesús; Galdo Álvarez, Santiago; Díaz Fernández, Fernando; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Psicoloxía (IPsiUS)
Studies with stimulus–response compatibility (SRC) tasks used the stimulus position (SRC-p) and/or the direction indicated by a central arrow (SRC-d) as irrelevant dimensions. Despite behavioral differences revealed by the distributional analysis (DA), both interferences were established at similar loci on the basis of modulations in the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) and P3b components. Consequently, similar underlying mechanisms were proposed for both interferences. However, comparison of motor processes associated with each task is problematical because each involves different components. In addition, previous studies have frequently used different proportions of trials between conditions, which complicate interpretation of the results because the stimulus probability may modulate P3b. Taking these problems into account, the present study investigated the effects of interference in SRC-p and SRC-d tasks, in which the participants responded to the color of a stimulus while ignoring the position and the direction indicated by a central arrow, respectively. The interference was greater in the SRC-p than in the SRC-d task. The DA showed that stimulus position affected the performance more quickly than the direction of the arrow. The P3b latency was longer and the P3b amplitude was smaller when stimulus position was incompatible. However, no differences in P3b were found in the SRC-d task. Moreover, both types of interference affected response-related processes (LRP-r) similarly. Therefore, the stimulus position and the direction indicated by the stimulus may share a common locus of interference (response execution), but only stimulus position affects P3b component, which constitutes a link between stimulus evaluation and the response selection
Age-related changes in ERP correlates of visuospatial and motor processes
(Wiley Online Library, 2013-08) Cespón, Jesús; Galdo Álvarez, Santiago; Díaz Fernández, Fernando; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Instituto de Psicoloxía (IPsiUS)
Although previous ERP studies have demonstrated slowing of visuospatial and motor processes with age, such studies frequently included only young and elderly participants, and lacked information about age-related changes across the adult lifespan. The present research used a Simon task with two irrelevant dimensions (position and direction of an arrow) to study visuospatial (N2 posterior contralateral, N2pc) and motor (response-locked lateralized readiness potential, LRP-r) processes in young, middle-aged, and elderly adults. The reaction time and motor execution stage (LRP-r) increased gradually with age, while visuospatial processes (N2pc latency) were similarly delayed in the older groups. No age-related increase in interference was observed, probably related to a delay in processing the symbolic meaning of the direction in older groups, which was consistent with age-related differences in distributional analyses and N2pc amplitude modulations
Differences between mild cognitive impairment subtypes as indicated by event-related potential correlates of cognitive and motor processes in a Simon task
(IOS Press, 2014-11-21) Cespón, Jesús; Galdo Álvarez, Santiago; Pereiro Rozas, Arturo X.; Díaz Fernández, Fernando; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Evolutiva e da Educación
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may represent a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the clinical manifestations of MCI are heterogeneous. Consequently, MCI subtypes are differentiated since amnestic decline (particularly when combined with decline on multiple cognitive domains) increases the probability of progression to AD. In the present study, event-related potential (ERP) correlates of stimulus evaluation (N2), visuospatial attention (negativity posterior-contralateral, N2pc), stimulus categorization (P3b), executive control (pre-response positivity, PP, and medial frontal negativity), and motor (lateralized readiness potential, LRP) processes were studied in 53 participants while they performed a Simon task. Participants were divided into control group (CG), multiple-domain non-amnestic MCI (mdnaMCI), single-domain amnestic MCI (sdaMCI), and multiple-domain amnesic MCI (mdaMCI). Although there were no differences in reaction times and percentage of errors in the performed Simon-type task, a differential pattern of electrophysiological correlates was observed in MCI compared to CG. Concretely, amnestic MCI (sdaMCI and mdaMCI) showed reduced motor activity (LRP amplitude; AUC: 0.84); impairment in executive control (PP amplitude; AUC: 0.80) was observed in multiple-domain MCI (mdaMCI and mdnaMCI); finally, stimulus evaluation (N2 latency; AUC: 0.86) and visuospatial attention (N2pc amplitude; AUC: 0.78) was affected in mdaMCI. Overall, results linked the poorer prognosis of the mdaMCI subtype with a greater number of differences in ERP correlates regarding CG. Therefore, the present results enable us to suggest possible ERP biomarkers for specific MCI subtypes.
Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Promotes Frontal Compensatory Mechanisms in Healthy Elderly Subjects
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2017-01-18) Cespón, Jesús; Rodella, Claudia; Rossini, Paolo Maria; Miniussi, Carlo; Pellicciari, Maria Concetta; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía
Recent studies have demonstrated that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is potentially useful to improve working memory. In the present study, young and elderly subjects performed a working memory task (n-back task) during an electroencephalogram recording before and after receiving anodal, cathodal, and sham tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). We investigated modulations of behavioral performance and electrophysiological correlates of working memory processes (frontal and parietal P300 event-related potentials). A strong tendency to modulated working memory performance was observed after the application of tDCS. In detail, young, but not elderly, subjects benefited from additional practice in the absence of real tDCS, as indicated by their more accurate responses after sham tDCS. The cathodal tDCS had no effect in any group of participants. Importantly, anodal tDCS improved accuracy in elderly. Moreover, increased accuracy after anodal tDCS was correlated with a larger frontal P300 amplitude. These findings suggest that, in elderly subjects, improved working memory after anodal tDCS applied over the left DLPFC may be related to the promotion of frontal compensatory mechanisms, which are related to attentional processes.
Validation of the Spanish version of the cerebellar cognitive-affective syndrome scale
(Taylor & Francis, 2025-04-22) Serrano Munuera, Carmen; Martínez Regueiro, Rocío; Martínez Fernández, Eva María; Alemany Perna, Berta; López Domínguez, Daniel; Rojas Bartolomé, Laura; Adarmes Gómez, Astrid; Pérez Torre, Paula; Abenza Abildúia. María Jesús; Rouco Axpe, Idoia; Feria Villar, Inmaculada; Pérez Pérez, Jesús; Schmahmann, Jeremy D.; García-Sánchez, Carmen; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía
Objective: To validate the Spanish version of the Cerebellar Cognitive-Affective Syndrome scale (CCAS-S), originally published in 2018, in patients with cerebellar ataxia and healthy subjects, as an adapted Spanish version based on normative data has not yet been published or validated. Methods: Spanish CCAS-S was administered prospectively to 158 patients with cerebellar ataxia and 164 matched healthy subjects from different regions of Spain. Discriminant validity and reliability were evaluated. A subgroup of 30 patients underwent detailed neuropsychological examinations to confirm the construct validity. The Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and the Brief Ataxia Rating Scale (BARS) were used to assess motor performance. Results: This Spanish instrument demonstrates reliability and exhibits statistically significant differences in performance between patients and healthy subjects. Our analysis revealed lower values for specificity in detecting possible, probable, or definite CCAS compared to those reported in the US validation study when utilizing the original cutoff values. Upon application of the appropriate correction factor for education, the specificity values approximated those reported for probable and definite CCAS diagnostics in the original investigation. Conclusions: The adapted Spanish CCAS-S has demonstrated validity and good reliability in this cohort. Discriminant validity was satisfactory for probable and definite CCAS when the correction for education was applied, and modified template and instructions have been developed. Further research is necessary to investigate the significance of the possible CCAS category, as diagnosed using the Spanish version, as well as to assess the performance of the corrected scale in other Spanish-speaking countries.

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