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Neuropsychological functioning in young professionals who use alcohol as a leisure activity [Funcionamiento neuropsicológico en profesionales jóvenes que consumen alcohol como actividad de esparcimiento]

2020 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Serrano-Flores P.

Nowadays it is common for young professionals, after their weekly working hours, to carry out recreational activities that involve the consumption of alcohol. In this sense, the article reports a study that analyzed the impact on the neuropsychological functioning of 30 young professionals who consume alcohol weekly (Mage = 29.07, SD = 5.50), when compared with 32 young professionals who do not consume alcohol (Mage = 29.56, SD = 5.96). Results suggest that adults in the group consuming alcohol have a lower performance in neuropsychological tests assessing cognitive flexibility (t = 2.10, p =. <.05), initiative (t = 2.15, p = <.05), fluency phonological (t = -2.09, p = <.05), reading (t = -2.14, p = <.05), similarities (t = -2.03, p = <.05), visual-spatial memory (t = - 2.14, p = <.05) and recognition (t = -2.48, p = <.01), when compared with the control group. The results suggest that weekly alcohol consumption generates a negative impact on the functioning of professional adults, which can have a counterproductive effect in the contexts where it is developed. The results are discussed around previous research and highlighting the need to identify the effect of alcohol consumption once a week, which would be seen as a leisure activity for young professional adults, not taking into account the negative impact on their cognitive performance. © 2020 Editora Cientifica Nacional Ltda. All rights reserved.

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Artificial Intelligence and Tomorrow’s Education

2021 , Cóndor-Herrera, Omar , Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio , Jadán Guerrero, Janio , Ramos Galarza, Carlos

Nowadays, there is a rapid technological progress around the world that has enabled realities long ago unimaginable. We live in a technological era that represents new possibilities and challenges for society, and for the educational models in each country [1]. Research on smart education, which has forced the educational community to rethink on new ways of learning and teaching has been developed globally. Due to the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the educational model for both, teachers and students will change. Nevertheless, to transform educational systems, it is necessary to update and train students, educators, and administrators effectively [2]. This research aims to describe the possible applications of AI in education from: 1) the automation of administrative tasks; 2) collection and analysis of information [3] to create smart content; 3) the implementation of virtual assistants in the teaching-learning process; 4) the potential delivery of lectures by humanoid robots with AI. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Development of video games to improve the learning of data structures

2020 , Salvador-Ullauri L. , Salvador-Acosta B. , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Acosta-Vargas P.

Computer engineering students have little interest in striving to understand the fundamentals of developing data structures at the origins of computing. In order to improve the learning of the Data Structure course, a strategy has been established for students to develop a simple video game in which the implementation of AVL trees, queues, and stacks shows the importance of using data structures during the development of computational applications. This work suggests a method to stimulate the learning of the essential elements of the software through the development of video games to emphasize the importance of the use of Data Structures. The students involved in this practice used graphic tools to represent the insertion and deletion operations that are performed on three types of Data Structures: AVL Tree, queue and stack. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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Mobile Technological Apps to Improve Frontal Lobe Functioning

2021 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Acosta-Rodas M. , Sanchez-Gordon S. , Calle-Jimenez T.

The technological proposal here elaborated consists of a cellphone app denominated Mind & Brain which encompasses subcomponents that allow the compensation of each frontal lobe function. In the component of planning, for example, this application allows a person to have an electronic diary to set daily activities to accomplish and will have the opportunity to set reminders and alarms with the patient´s own voice about the activities that must achieve in that specific day. For emotional regulation, the person will be able to be in control of every emotion and reaction. In monitoring, the subject must follow verbal instructions to solve successfully a problem, previously inserted. For decision making, the app will identify the possible consequences of choosing one or another option. With this technological innovation, people with any frontal lobe disorder will improve their quality of life. © 2021, The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Neuropsychological assessment of attention: Symbols and digits test.

2018 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Acosta-Rodas P. , Jadán Guerrero, Janio , Guevara-Maldonado C.B. , Zapata-Rodríguez M. , Apolo-Buenaño D.

Introduction: The symbol digit modality test is a reactive which provides great support in neuropsychological evaluation. Its execution permits to evaluate brain functions such as visual perception, stimuli recognition, attention (focal, selective and sustained), task supervision, interference control among others. Object: The purpose of the current research study was to analyze the normative percentiles of the execution of the test, to identify the performance activity of the reactive according to age group and gender; applying the test in a sample of college students. Method: The sample included 250 university students,142 (56.8%) males and 108 (43.2%) females. The age range of the participants was between 18 and 34 years old (M=21.53, DE=2.25). A transversal, non-experimental, quantitative research model with a correlational scope was used. Results: The correct answer average for the test was 52.83 (DE=13,60) and for percentile P5 31,55 right answers were found; for percentile P75 60,00 right answers, P25 had 46,00 right answers, and for P95 74,45 right answers were found. No significant differences were found for the mean of errors in the test in terms of age group f(3, 246)=0,67, p=0,57 and gender t(248)=0,68, p=0,49 of the participants as comparison factor. Conclusions: Results were discussed based on prior research pointing out the importance of counting with a first statistical parameter of the test as ground for neuropsychological clinical practice in Ecuador. © 2018 Fundacion para la difusion neurologica en Ecuador - FUNDINE. All rights reserved.

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Systematic Review of Technological Methods of Evaluation of Executive Functions

2024 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , García-Cruz P. , Bolaños-Pasquel M.

Executive functions are a set of high-level skills that allow humans to consciously regulate their cognition and behavior. The main executive functions are inhibitory control, planning, working memory, cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, among others. The use of technological resources is key to evaluate executive functions, since, in today’s society; technological resources are part of the daily life of the human being and must be present in the evaluation processes of these mental abilities. In this context, this article presents a systematic review study that has sought to identify the main technological developments that are used in the evaluation of executive functions. For this study, articles published in the Scopus database were analyzed, finding 350 studies and after the inclusion and exclusion process, we worked with eight studies that developed technological devices to evaluate executive functions. The developed devices have the benefit of assessing executive functions such as inhibition, working memory, decision making, among others. Finally, it is important to mention that technological development in neuropsychological evaluation is still in its beginnings and it is necessary to work on this line of research to have more devices to achieve this goal. © 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Talented soccer players, the big secret is in the brain: The great tragedy of the star player and the fate of magicians with a preserved nervous systems

2017 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Peña-García S. , Pérez-Salas C. , Cadena-Almeida I. , Jadán Guerrero, Janio , Bolaños-Pasquel M.

In previous work, we have presented case studies from fascinating films for the eye of the neuropsychologist;1,2,3 continuing with this line of research, we describe here for your consideration a critical analysis of the role of brain functions in one of the most fascinating sports, soccer. In this analysis, we will look more closely at the brain damage suffered by the great footballer Salvador Cabañas and the role of the highly complex brain functions that allow the magical players to stand out in this sport. In the next pages, we present the case of Salvador Cabañas, both before and after his cerebral accident, and later we analyze the cerebral functions that are activated in brilliant players like Messi or Ronaldinho. We conclude this article by reflecting on the role of the brain in our normal human activities, and how catastrophic it becomes on a daily basis when our brain tissue is damaged so that as a result of this condition we can lose everything. © 2017 Fundacion para la difusion neurologica en Ecuador - FUNDINE. All Rights Reserved.

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Neuropsychological analysis in a case of Global Aphasia [Análisis neuropsicológico en un caso de Afasia Global]

2023 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Gaibor-Estévez J.

Acquired brain damage generates a series of neuropsychological alterations, among which we can highlight aphasia. This syndrome is characterized by language impairment, with its main features being deficits in fluency, comprehension, repetition, naming, reading, writing and calculation. In this article we present the case of a patient suffering from global aphasia, who presents severe linguistic alterations. The state of the disease and its neuropsychological condition are analyzed. Finally, we close this analysis, highlighting the need for a correct neuropsychological approach at the level of diagnosis and rehabilitation which can help the patient. © 2023 Fundacion para la difusion neurologica en Ecuador - FUNDINE. All rights reserved.

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Scale of clinical observation to valuate the third functional unit of the Luria theory: EOCL-1. [Escala de Observación Clínica Para Valorar la Tercera Unidad Funcional de la Teoría de Luria: EOCL-1.]

2019 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Benavides-Endara P. , Bolaños-Pasquel M. , Fonseca-Bautista S. , Ramos D.

Luria's brain organization model proposes the interaction of three functional units to understand the work performed by the human brain. The first of them is responsible for the regulation of tone and wakefulness. The second one to receive, process and store the information. The third, and of central interest of the investigation, is responsible for programming, executing and verifying mental activity. To evaluate this theory, a series of experimental neuropsychological tests have been developed, however, a scale has not been proposed that, based on the theoretical precepts on the third functional unit, allows to assess it based on the behaviors of the daily life of the human being. This research proposes a scale that will allow the clinician to assess the mental abilities associated with the ability to program, execute and verify the most complex form of mental activity; integrated in the third functional unit of Luria. The proposal is discussed, based on the benefit that is generated by having a scale that will allow to assess this theory, in the different environments where the individual develops through the action of the cerebral abilities of the third functional unit. © 2019 Fundacion para la difusion neurologica en Ecuador - FUNDINE. All rights reserved.

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Implementation of Virtual Learning Objects in the Development of Mathematical Skills: A Qualitative Analysis from the Student Experience

2021 , Cóndor-Herrera, Omar , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Acosta-Rodas P.

This article reports a research of a qualitative methodology that analyzed narratives of students aged between 10 and 14 years old, who received a learning technological program based on Virtual Learning Objects. As results, it was found that the program applied propitiate significant willingness, happiness, motivation, and innovation towards learning mathematics. There is discussed about the need of the implementation of this methodology in benefit of learning mathematics. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.