Papers by Manuel MARTIN-LOECHES
Origen y evolución del lenguaje humano
Revista de psicología y educación, 2008
origen principal de la actividad recogida por los electrodos, su localización (corteza cerebral) ... more origen principal de la actividad recogida por los electrodos, su localización (corteza cerebral) y su actividad (principalmente rítmica). A continuación se muestra con un ejemplo cómo estas técnicas pueden utilizarse en el estudio de funciones cognitivas o sus alteraciones. Concretamente, se presentan dos estudios realizados sobre alteraciones de la percepción lingüística, específicamente sobre dislexia. En un primer estudio se pretendía una introducción al campo, con lo que los resultados no fueron concluyentes dada la gran disparidad de resultados encontrados hasta la fecha por los distintos autores. Debido a que la heterogeneidad de las muestras puede ser la causa de esta disparidad, en un segundo estudio se utiliza una muestra muy homogénea de disléxicos puros y se comprueba la hipótesis de que la dislexia es un trastorno principalmente funcional del cerebro.
GRF-induced GH response in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
PubMed, 1990
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a type of disruptive behavior of unknown etiol... more Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a type of disruptive behavior of unknown etiology with a prevalence of 2.5-5% in school-age children. The useful evaluation of the GRF-induced GH response as a marker in some mental disorders led us to study the response of GH to the exogenous administration of GRF (1-29) NH2 (150 micrograms, i.v.) in ADHD children (N = 12, age = 7.78 +/- 1.66 years) and healthy children (N = 6; age = 8.73 +/- 2.24 years) in order to evaluate the functioning of the somatotropinergic system (GRF-SS-GH-SM axis) and using this neuroendocrine test as a potential diagnostic marker and/or a therapeutic predictor in ADHD. While controls (CS) showed a maximum GH response to GRF 15 min after injection (37.15 +/- 29.56 ng/ml; basal GH = 5.49 +/- 4.71 ng/ml), ADHD children (basal GH = 2.28 +/- 1.66 ng/ml) exhibited a lower response with a plateau from 15 (21.32 +/- 10.00 ng/ml) to 60 min (26.48 +/- 23.72 ng/ml). Serum GH levels at 90 (17.23 +/- 14.45 vs. 5.99 +/- 2.82 ng/ml, p less than 0.05) and 120 min (11.89 +/- 8.63 vs. 4.12 +/- 1.66 ng/ml, p less than 0.05) were significantly higher in ADHD than in CS. According to the GRF-induced GH response elicited in ADHD, two different populations of patients can be distinguished; one group with high response of GH (AUC = 3372.21 +/- 1127.61 ng.min/ml) and another group with a hyporeactive GH (AUC = 1567.46 +/- 726.0 ng.min/ml, p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Current Conceptions of Human Cognition in Understanding the Origins of Human Art
Oxford University Press eBooks, Feb 23, 2023
How society modulates our behavior: Effects on error processing of masked emotional cues contextualized in social status
Social Neuroscience, 2021
ABSTRACT In the present study, we investigate whether subliminal complex social cues have an impa... more ABSTRACT In the present study, we investigate whether subliminal complex social cues have an impact on error-monitoring processes. For this purpose, we presented two social status ranks (high and low) with three possible emotional expressions (happy, neutral, angry), using a backward masking paradigm. Participants were instructed to perform a flanker task while recording Event-Related brain Potentials. Results showed larger amplitudes for the Error-Related Negativity index after the presentation of high relative to low social ranks, only for neutral expressions. Neither the angry nor the happy faces induced significant differences in social rank processing. This indicates that subliminal high social ranks, specifically with neutral expressions, increase error processing by boosting attentional control to perform the ongoing task. Our findings extend current knowledge on the automaticity of social and emotional processing and its influence on performance monitoring mechanisms.
Cortex, 2020
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Effects of reader’s facial expression on syntactic processing: A brain potential study
Brain Research, 2020
Embodied views of language support that facial sensorimotor information can modulate language com... more Embodied views of language support that facial sensorimotor information can modulate language comprehension. The aim of this study is to test whether the syntactic processing of simple sentences, as measured with event-related brain potentials (ERP), could be affected by reader's facial expressions. Participants performed a correctness decision task using sentences that could be either correct (50 %) or contain a morphosyntactic disagreement (either in gender or number), while making one of four facial expressions: participants either (a) posed no facial expression ("control" condition) (b) brought their eyebrows together, making the ends of two golf tees touch ("frown" condition), (c) held a pencil with their teeth ("smile" condition), or (d) held the pencil using their lips ("non-smile" condition). In all conditions the customary left anterior negativities did not appear. In contrast, an N400-like component emerged, which was larger for the "frown" condition and reduced in the "smile" and "non-smile" conditions. These results can be interpreted as the consequence of either an unconscious emotion induction or an interplay between the motor and the language systems subsequent to the effort needed to hold the facial expression.
El componente P300 de los potenciales evocados en la valoración de la esquizofrenia: nuevas evidencias y visiones de futuro
Revista de Neurología, 2001
OBJECTIVE To analyze the character as pathophysiological marker of the P300 component in the eval... more OBJECTIVE To analyze the character as pathophysiological marker of the P300 component in the evaluation of schizophrenic illness. We therefore review clinical and neuropsychological evidence of studies in which this was used as a tool for evaluation to reach a diagnosis. DEVELOPMENT The P300 component is useful for studying not only cognitive processes but also the physiopathology of complex disorders such as schizophrenia. This component reflects the state of functions of attention control and memory, both necessary for final evaluation of a stimulus. These cognitive functions become altered in schizophrenic illness, as is shown by abnormality in the generation of the P300 component. We review the most relevant results, which permit characterization of the many features of schizophrenia from genetic, symptom, morphology and neuropsychological studies in which the P300 component is particularly relevant. Similarly, we analyze current controversies due to the great heterogeneity of methodology and the nature of the illness itself. CONCLUSIONS Current understanding allows us to establish that the P300 is a biological marker of relevant aspects of schizophrenia such as the genetic risk of suffering a psychotic episode, determine the type and gravity of the symptoms of the disease, as well as the degree of structural deterioration of the patient. The P300 component is sensitive to the effect of different neuroleptic drugs, on both the symptoms and neuropsychological functions of the patient. These findings let us suggest the P300 component as a valid marker for the evaluation of schizophrenia and the neuropsychological processes.
Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics, 2011
This article presents an overview of the contribution of brain imaging techniques to the study of... more This article presents an overview of the contribution of brain imaging techniques to the study of human language by first reviewing previous historical approaches to the study of the relationships between language and the brain. A brief introduction to modern brain imaging techniques follows, thereafter describing several concrete examples of contributions of these techniques to better know the human language, as well as to vivid debates into the linguistic and the psycholinguistic disciplines. This overview finishes with a comment on the present and the future of studying language with brain imaging techniques. It is concluded that these techniques are playing an essential role in the understanding of human language.
Brain Research, Jun 1, 2006
A review of the literature about the interplay of syntax and semantics, using event-related brain... more A review of the literature about the interplay of syntax and semantics, using event-related brain potentials (ERPs), revealed that the results are highly heterogeneous, owing to several possible variables. An experiment was conducted with Spanish sentences that factorially combined syntactic and semantic violations in the same sentence-intermediate adjective and controlled for working memory demands, variables that in previous studies have rarely been taken into consideration. Violations consisted in noun-adjective number or gender disagreements (syntactic violation), noun-adjective semantic incompatibility (semantic violation), or both (combined violation). The N400 to semantic violations was unaffected by additional syntactic violations. The P600/SPS component, considered to reflect syntactic processes, was elicited by both single syntactic and semantic violations but seemed to be diminished in combined violations relative to single syntactic violations. These results suggest that under the conditions of the present experiment semantic information may have a prevailing role over syntactic information.
Advances in Cognitive Psychology, Jun 30, 2015
n400, dual task, semantic processing, reading, automaticity, P600 the present study contributes t... more n400, dual task, semantic processing, reading, automaticity, P600 the present study contributes to the discussion on the automaticity of semantic processing. Whereas most previous research investigated semantic processing at word level, the present study addressed semantic processing during sentence reading. A dual task paradigm was combined with the recording of event-related brain potentials. Previous research at word level processing reported different patterns of interference with the n400 by additional tasks: attenuation of amplitude or delay of latency. in the present study, we presented spanish sentences that were semantically correct or contained a semantic violation in a critical word. At different intervals preceding the critical word a tone was presented that required a high-priority choice response. At short intervals/high temporal overlap between the tasks mean amplitude of the n400 was reduced relative to long intervals/low temporal overlap, but there were no shifts of peak latency. We propose that processing at sentence level exerts a protective effect against the additional task. this is in accord with the attentional sensitization model , which suggests that semantic processing is an automatic process that can be enhanced by the currently activated task set. the present experimental sentences also induced a P600, which is taken as an index of integrative processing. Additional task effects are comparable to those in the n400 time window and are briefly discussed.
Effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement, psychosocial functioning, and physical fitness: A multi-country cluster randomized controlled trial
Journal of Sport and Health Science, Oct 1, 2021
PURPOSE To examine the effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement, psy... more PURPOSE To examine the effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement, psychosocial functioning, and physical fitness in children aged 7-8 years. METHODS Twenty schools in 5 different European countries (2 second-grade classrooms per school) participated in a cluster randomized controlled trial (Sport at School trial). Participants were assigned to either a control group, which continued with their habitual physical education lessons, or to an intervention group, which replaced these lessons with a 1-year karate intervention (Karate Mind and Movement program). A total of 721 children (344 girls and 377 boys, 7.4 ± 0.5 years old, mean ± SD) completed the study, of which 333 and 388 were assigned to the control group and intervention group, respectively. Outcomes included academic performance (average grade), psychosocial functioning (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for parents), and different markers of physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, and flexibility). RESULTS The intervention provided small but significant benefits compared to the control group for academic achievement (d = 0.16; p = 0.003), conduct problems (d = -0.28; p = 0.003), cardiorespiratory fitness (d = 0.36; p < 0.001), and balance (d = 0.24; p = 0.015). There was a trend towards significant benefits for flexibility (d = 0.24; p = 0.056). No significant benefits were observed for other variables, including psychosocial difficulties, emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, peer problems, or prosocial behaviour (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION A 1-year school-based karate intervention was effective in improving academic achievement, conduct problems, and physical fitness in primary school children. The results support the inclusion of karate during physical education lessons.
Influencia del estrés auditivo en la ejecución y en los patrones electroencefalográficos durante la realización de tareas de atención visual: un estudio preliminar
Psiquis: Revista de psiquiatría, psicología médica y psicosomática, 1994
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Sep 1, 2013
The reasons behind the cultural persistence of religious beliefs throughout human history and pre... more The reasons behind the cultural persistence of religious beliefs throughout human history and prehistory still generate unanswered questions requiring scientific explanations. Within the framework of the cognitive science of religion, this article reviews experimental evidence supporting human predisposition for religious thinking and focuses on the hypothesis that a reason why religious beliefs are successful is their minimal counterintuitiveness. According to this hypothesis, religious concepts or stories would be characterized by containing only a small number of world-knowledge violations, which attracts attention while improving memorizability. We conclude this review by summarizing recent findings from our group using brain electrical activity and delving further into these questions. Our research suggests parallels between the natural tendency of the human cognitive system to use metaphors and the minimal counterintuitiveness of religious beliefs.
Biological Psychiatry, Feb 1, 1993
and 4-6 Hz bands, where AD patients presented highest power values. The AD group was divided into... more and 4-6 Hz bands, where AD patients presented highest power values. The AD group was divided into two groups according to the stage of disease. Both groups of patients presented 0-2 Hz increase in frontal, right parieto-temporal, and oc¢-ipiiul aieas. The increase in 4-6 Hz band was mainly over frontal areas in both groups and over left parietal region in moderate AD patients. These results and those relative to dominant frequency and crossover frequency between groups are discussed according to previous results with conventional and 2-Hz wide bands in AD patients in a severe stage of the disease.
How the speaker’s emotional facial expressions may affect language comprehension
Language, Cognition and Neuroscience
Understanding and Designing the Meal Experience and its Psychological Consequences
Experience Design, 2015
Am I the same person across my life span? An event‐related brain potentials study of the temporal perspective in self‐identity
Psychophysiology, 2020
While self‐identity recognition has been largely explored, less is known on how self‐identity cha... more While self‐identity recognition has been largely explored, less is known on how self‐identity changes as a function of time. The present work aims to explore the influence of the temporal perspective on self‐identity by studying event‐related brain potentials (ERP) associated with face processing. To this purpose, participants had to perform a recognition task in two blocks with different task demands: (i) identity recognition (self, close‐friend, unknown), and (ii) life stage recognition (adulthood ‐current‐, adolescence, and childhood). The results showed that the N170 component was sensitive to changes in the global face configuration when comparing adulthood with other life stages. The N250 was the earliest neural marker discriminating self from other identities and may be related to a preferential deployment of attentional resources to recognize own face. The P3 was a robust index of self‐specificity, reflecting stimulus categorization and presumably adding an emotional value. ...
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Papers by Manuel MARTIN-LOECHES