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The aim of the dissertation is to explore behavioral and neuropsychological correlates of elementary deductive processes in infants and adults. To this purpose, we introduce a novel non-verbal task presenting scenes containing an ambiguity which could be resolved by the application of an elementary logical rule (A or B, not A, therefore B). In a series of studies we identified oculomotor responses associated with logical inference processing, substantially stable across development, indicating that some logical rules may be at the core of human cognition and occur independently of language. Second, to further address the nature of this process, we conducted imaging studies to describe the brain networks involved in elementary nonverbal deduction.In adults, an fMRI study revealed activity in the prefrontal and occipital cortices associated to a logical representation, and a left fronto-parietal activity associated to a logical inference, indicating that also non-verbal reasoning is made by a cascade of process of different nature. A fNIRS study in 12-month-olds revealed a more extended and bilateral activation with respect to adults, with oculomotor data indicating the cost associated to both logical components. Our results show that non-verbal reasoning is a multiple component process substantially similar across development, perhaps undergoing a neural reorganization from infancy to adulthood. El objetivo de esta tesis es el de explorar correlatos conductuales y neuropsicológicos de procesos deductivos básicos en bebés y adultos. Para ello diseñamos un tarea no verbal novedosa que consiste en la presentación de escenas que contienen una ambigüedad y puede ser resulta mediante la aplicación de una regla lógica básica (A o B, no A, entonces B). A través de varios estudios, identificamos respuestas oculomotoras asociadas a la realización de una inferencia lógica sustancialmente estables a lo largo del desarrollo, esto indica que algunas reglas lógicas pueden ser parte del núcleo de la cognición humana y ocurrir independientemente del lenguaje. Segundo, para aclarar la naturaleza de este proceso, realizamos estudios de imagen funcional para describir las areas cerebrales implicadas en procesos elementales de deducción no verbal. En adultos, un estudio basado en fMRI, mostró actividad en áreas prefrontales and occipitales asociada a los procesos de representación lógica, y actividad fronto-parietal asociada a la realización de inferencias lógicas, indicando que incluso el razonamiento no verbal está compuesto por una cascada de procesos de naturaleza diferente. Un estudio de fNIRS en bebés de 12 meses reveló un perfil de activación bilateral y más extendido en relación a los adultos, con respuestas oculomotoras que señalan el coste asociado a los dos componentes lógicos. Nuestros resultados muestran que el razonamiento no verbal es un proceso con múltiples componentes en gran medida similar a lo largo del desarrollo, quizá sometido a una reorganización neuronal desde la infancia a la edad adulta.

Metacognitive theory of emotional disorders (Matthews and Wells, 1994; Wells, 2009) suggests that metacognitive beliefs can play a causal role in the development and maintenance of anxiety symptoms. In this prospective study, we examine the relationships between metacognitive beliefs, perceived stress and anxiety in a non-clinical sample. Participants were 135 undergraduate students who completed a battery of questionnaire at two time points (3- months apart). Results revealed metacognitive beliefs do not predict long-term anxiety independently. However, moderation analyses demonstrated negative beliefs about uncontrollability and danger prospectively moderated the relationship between perceived stress and Time 2 anxiety. Negative metacognitive beliefs also interacted with baseline anxiety to predict the change in anxiety symptoms. The results confirm metacognitions play a causal role in anxiety and have implications for cognitive models and the treatment of anxiety.

nbsp;The Displaced Aggression Questionnaire (DAQ) is an instrument that assesses personality differences in the tendency to displace aggression. This scale is composed of three factors: angry rumination (as affective dimension), revenge planning (as cognitive dimension), and general tendency to engage in displaced aggression (as a behavioral dimension). The present study examined the validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the DAQ.nbsp;The sample consisted of 429 student and non-student participants.The results showed good psychometric properties, and factor analyses revealed a clear three-factor structure. Further, preliminary data about associations between DAQ scores and indirect aggression and emotion regulation strategies are shown.The scale presents adequate evidence for potential use in a Spanish population. We discuss its utility for research on different types of aggression (e.g., domestic abuse).

Objetivo Conocer aspectos clinicos, diagnosticos y de tratamiento de la brucelosis en la provincia de Almeria. Metodos Se ha realizado un estudio epidemiologico descriptivo, a partir de las 1.595 fichas de declaracion individualizada de enfermedad en la provincia de Almeria, en el periodo 1972-1998. Los apartados de complicaciones y tratamiento aparecen en 890 fichas (57,79%), los sintomas, signos y hemograma en 565 (35,42%) y otros datos diagnosticos en la totalidad de las fichas estudiadas. Se realiza la prueba estadistica de Chi Cuadrado para comparacion de variables cualitativas independientes para un nivel de confianza del 95%. Resultados En la fase inicial el sintoma mas frecuente fue la astenia (95,2%); en la fase de estado la sudacion (95,8%). El signo mas registrado es la esplenomegalia (37,5%) y la complicacion mas descrita la osteoarticular (22,8%). No se han encontrado modificaciones en la sintomatologia a lo largo de los anos. El hemograma revela que un 30,3% de casos presentaban anemia. El hemocultivo ha sido positivo en el 91,2%. Respecto al diagnostico serologico, la Rosa de Bengala presenta un 99,2% de positividad; el hallazgo de las aglutinaciones a Brucella o B. melitensis mas frecuente es 1/640 (13,47%). El tratamiento mas utilizado ha sido asociacion de tetraciclina y estreptomicina (42,5%). En un 42,6% consta que se derivaron los pacientes al hospital, sobre todo a partir del ano 1984. Conclusiones En general, los datos clinicos registrados en las fichas de declaracion obligatoria de la brucelosis permiten conocer las caracteristicas clinicas de esta enfermedad, tras la observacion de un largo periodo de tiempo. La prueba Rosa de Bengala deberia ser utilizada como prueba de cribado en el diagnostico de la enfermedad.

Resumen: Las emociones son una fuente muy valiosa de información para nuestra adap¬tación y bienestar. Dentro de nuestras habilidades para procesar la información emocional, la literatura científica ha mostrado cómo la percepción emocional es fundamental para comenzar dicho proceso con éxito. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los estudios realizados en este ámbito han utilizado muestras adultas o clínicas. En este trabajo investigamos, mediante un estudio longitudinal prospectivo, la influencia de la percepción emocional sobre el ajuste psicosocial de una muestra de estudiantes de secundaria. Los resultados muestran que la habilidad para per¬cibir emociones es un predictor estable de un menor desajuste clínico y emocional y de un mayor ajuste personal. Además, estos resultados se mantienen incluso tras controlar los niveles previos de ajuste. Igualmente, encontramos importantes diferencias de sexo y edad en la relación entre percepción emocional y el ajuste psicosocial. Se discute acerca de las posibles implicaciones educativas de los resul¬tados y de futuras líneas de trabajo en el campo de la percepción emocional y la inteligencia emocional. Abstract: Emotions are a very valuable source of information for our adjustment and well-being. Within our skills to process the emotional information, emotional perception is fundamental to begin such process successfully. Nevertheless, the majority of the studies conducted in this area have used adult or clinical samples. In this work we investigated through a prospective one-year longitudinal study the relation between emotional perception and psycho-social adjustment in a secondary student sample. The results showed emotional perception as a stable predictor of higher personal adjustment and lower emotional imbalance and clinical maladjustment. The emotional perception ability also appeared as a significant predictor of dependent variables, even when the variable criterion at time 1 was controlled. Significant variation was found depending on sex and age. Possible educational implications and future lines of research on emotional perception and emotional intelligence are discussed.

To know clinical, diagnostic, and treatment issues of brucellosis in the Almeria province.Descriptive, epidemiological study from 1,595 disease report cards in the Almeria province during the 1972-1998 period. Issues concerning complications and treatment were reported in 890 cards (57.8%), symptoms, signs and hemograms in 565 (35.4%), and other diagnostic findings in all cards. The chi2 test was used to compare independent qualitative parameters for a 95% CI.In the early phase the most common symptom was asthenia (95.2%); sweating in the chronic stage (95.8%). The most commonly recorded sign was spleen enlargement (37.5%) and the most commonly reported complication was bone and joint involvement (22.8%). No changes in symptoms occurred over years. The hemogram revealed anemia in 30.3% of cases. Blood culture was positive for 91.2%. Regarding serological diagnosis, rose Bengal was positive for 99.2% of cases; the most common agglutination titer to Brucella or B. mellitensis was 1/640 (13.5%). The most commonly used therapy consisted of the association tetracycline plus streptomycin (42.4%). For 42.6% of cards, patients were transferred to hospital, particularly since 1984.Generally speaking, clinical data recorded in the reporting card regarding brucellosis disease reveal the clinical features of the disease, after a long surveillance period. Rose Bengal should be used as screening test for the diagnosis of this disease.