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Development and Validation of A Brief Scale to Assess Attachment in Adults: Psychometric Analysis in Latin America [Desarrollo y Validación de Una Escala Breve Para Valorar el Apego en Adultos: Análisis Psicométrico en América Latina]

2020 , Ortiz-Granja D. , Acosta-Rodas P. , Lepe-Martínez N. , Valle M.D. , Ramos V. , Pasquel M.B. , Ramos Galarza, Carlos

Assessment of the adult attachment in the Latin American context as a research line is not yet solved. This study has the aim to present the results of the development and validation of a scale to assess the adult attachment. The sample was composed of 1563 participants aged between 17 and 33 years from Chile and Ecuador. This scale was formed by 14 items, which allowed the assessment of secure attachment, avoidant attachment, and ambivalent attachment. Results are as following: (a) the scale presented an adequate internal consistency for secure attachment α=.73 and ω=.82, avoidant α=.58 and ω=.70, and ambivalent α=.69 and ω=.73; (b) adequate convergent validity with sense of coherence (r=.34 and .43, p=< .001); (c) the exploratory factor analysis kept up the items’ organization developed KMO=.77, x2=4133.91, p=<.001; and, (d) the confirmatory factor analysis presented a good fit with three items for each attachment type x2(24)=136.28, p=<.001, CFI=.95, RMSEA=.05(.04–.06), SRMR=.03. Findings of psychometric properties are discussed, highlighting the contribution of this scale in the Latin American context and its relationship with previous research. © 2020 Fundacion para la difusion neurologica en Ecuador - FUNDINE. All rights reserved.

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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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Neuropsychological analysis of a case with anosognosia [Análisis neuropsicológico de un caso con anosognosia]

2020 , Gaibor-Estévez J. , Ramos Galarza, Carlos

Anosognosia is a neuropsychological disorder that generates in the patient an inability to have a state of full awareness about their disease or deficit due to brain injury. In this article we report the analysis of a case that, due to a head injury, presented this brain disorder. The neuropsychological analysis begins with the clinical description of the case, its premorbid status, the family report of the current state and a neuropsychological analysis of the symptoms presented that support the diagnostic hypothesis of anosognosia. The case presented is discussed based on the need to make accurate diagnoses and propose neuropsychological rehabilitation programs so that patients with anosognosia suffer the least possible impact on the activities of their daily lives as a result of acquired brain disorder. © 2020 Sociedad de Neurologia Psiquiatria y Neurocirugia. All rights reserved.

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Moderator Role of Monitoring in the Inhibitory Control of Adolescents With ADHD

2021 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Pérez-Salas C.

Objective: The aim of this research was to analyze the role of monitoring in the causal relationship between inhibitory control and symptoms of combined ADHD. Method: It has been conducted a quantitative investigation of two phases. Results: In the first study, a moderation model was analyzed (N = 144 adolescents with combined ADHD), where monitoring was considered as a moderating variable in the causal relationship between the inhibitory control and the symptomatology of ADHD F(3, 140) = 28.03, p <.001; R2 =.37. In the second study, the model through an experimental study was tested (N = 52 adolescents with and without ADHD) where it was found that adolescents with ADHD improve in their inhibitory control when they receive external support to the monitoring F(1, 50) = 21.38, p <.001, η2 =.30. Conclusion: Results suggest that monitoring compensates the poor performance of inhibitory control in adolescents with ADHD, which is a contribution to the theoretical construction of ADHD and to the treatments proposed for this condition because it goes beyond the classic conception of a causality chain among the deficit of inhibitory control and ADHD symptomatology to propose a new explanation about this disorder, where neuropsychology intervention of monitoring would diminish ADHD’s symptomatology impact on adolescents. © ©The Author(s) 2018.

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The role of executive functions in academic performance and behaviour of university students

2020 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Acosta-Rodas P. , Bolaños-Pasquel, Mónica , Lepe-Martínez N.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is fourfold: first, to analyse the relationship between executive functions and academic performance; second, to identify the level of prediction executive functions have on academic performance; third, to determine the correlation between executive functions and academic performance; and fourth, to compare executive functions based on the level of academic performance. Design/methodology/approach: The sample composed of 175 university students aged between 18 and 36 years (M=21.49, SD=3.22). The EFECO scale, the average student grade and a scale based on the diagnostic criteria for ADHD were used as measurement instruments. Findings: Difficulties in executive functions: Difficulties in working memory (r=−0.30, p=<0.01) and difficulties in conscious supervision of behaviour (r=−0.29, p⩽0.01) have an inversely proportional relationship to academic performance (the greater the deficit of executive functions, the lower the academic performance). The regression analysis showed that executive functions explain 31 per cent of the variance of academic performance (χ2(25)=43.81, p <0.001). The study found that there is a relationship between all the executive functions and students’ behaviour in a medium to large magnitude. Research limitations/implications: A limitation of this study was the size of the sample as it is not representative of the country. Nevertheless, the correlation among the variables studied here has the necessary magnitude for the proposed correlations to be found. Nonetheless, it is necessary that we perform a study with a larger number of participants in order to achieve adequate extrapolation of the results. Practical implications: Data found in this study suggest that low academic performance of university students is related to a lower functionality of their executive functions. Originality/value: The originality of the research lies in relating specific concepts of neuropsychology to explain the academic performance of university students. The research findings allow us to project new studies to improve the executive functions for the benefit of the university student. © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited.

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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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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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Loris karius neurofutbolistic analysis: From glory to hell [Análisis Neurofutbolístico de Loris Karius: De la Gloria al Infierno]

2020 , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Silva-Barragán M.

In the soccer context there have been huge errors that have cost the teams dearly. Sometimes they occur due to nerves or deconcentration, however, according to our clinical eye, sometimes the brain plays a trick and its malfunction, the product of traumatic brain injury that occurred in the same game, is what determines the score of an encounter. This is what happened to the Liverpool goalkeeper in the final of the 2018 Champions League, who, from our neuro-soccer reflection, had errors that cost him the match, due to an affectation of the cerebral magnocellular pathway that allows processing spatial visual perceptual information. In the featured article, we reflect on his brain state before and after the trauma suffered and highlight that a footballer who is awake and expressing that he can continue, is not necessarily an individual with his brain preserved, since it may be only a part of his brain mass speaking, but, as seen in Karius, however, other silencers may have been altered. We close the work by highlighting the need to incorporate neuropsychological knowledge to understand the effect of trauma on the playfield, since this work confirms that humans do not play soccer with th eir legs or hands, they do so with your brain. © 2020 Fundacion para la difusion neurologica en Ecuador - FUNDINE. All rights reserved.

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Low-Cost Human–Machine Interface for Computer Control with Facial Landmark Detection and Voice Commands

2022 , Ramos, P. , Zapata, Mireya , Valencia, K. , Vargas, V. , Ramos Galarza, Carlos

Nowadays, daily life involves the extensive use of computers, since human beings are immersed in a technological society. Therefore, it is mandatory to interact with computers, which represents a true disadvantage for people with upper limb disabilities. In this context, this work aims to develop an interface for emulating mouse and keyboard functions (EMKEY) by applying concepts of artificial vision and voice recognition to replace the use of hands. Pointer control is achieved by head movement, whereas voice recognition is used to perform interface functionalities, including speech-to-text transcription. To evaluate the interface’s usability and usefulness, two studies were carried out. The first study was performed with 30 participants without physical disabilities. Throughout this study, there were significant correlations found between the emulator’s usability and aspects such as adaptability, execution time, and the participant’s age. In the second study, the use of the emulator was analyzed by four participants with motor disabilities. It was found that the interface was best used by the participant with cerebral palsy, followed by the participants with upper limb paralysis, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy. In general, the results show that the proposed interface is easy to use, practical, fairly accurate, and works on a wide range of computers. © 2022 by the authors.

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Teleworking in times of COVID-19 [Teletrabajo en tiempos de COVID-19]

2020 , Ramos V. , Ramos Galarza, Carlos , Tejera E.

One of the impacts that COVID-19 has brought has been social isolation and teleworking. In this sense, telework presents different conditions to traditional ways of working from home, since in these conditions due to the COVI-19, there has been an increase in insecurity, fear and uncertainty. This study analyzes the characteristics of telework and its impact on productivity and well-being in people. The study was carried out in Ecuador, in a sample of 459 people who answered an online questionnaire. The results found demonstrate that there are aspects that affect productivity such as working long hours, personal skills, specifically self-motivation and organizational skills, and mental health. With this research, a better understanding of the situation of teleworking in confinement due to COVID-19 is achieved, allowing both individuals and organizations to develop resources so that work from home is successful and people feel satisfied while this situation lasts. © 2020, Sociedad Interamericana de Psicologia. All rights reserved.