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Introduction. To study the relationship between the objective variables of functionality and degree of life satisfaction in elderly people with an active lifestyle. Material and Methods. The study took place using a sample of 340 elderly people, aged 60-85, who were all leading an active life. The tests applied were: Satisfaction with Life Scale, Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test, Memory Failures Everyday, Geriatric Depression Scale, OARS social support subscale, COOP-WONCA physical dimension subscale and Siu and Reuben hierarchical scale for self-sufficiency. Results. Statistical analyses were made using Pearson's correlations, with a significance level of p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 between the objective variables and satisfaction with life level. The overall results show a negative correlation, that is, a paradox of well-being between the objective criteria of level of studies, memory level and self-sufficiency and the objective criterion of the level of life satisfaction. Conclusion. Proposals for intervention in elderly people's physical activity are needed, since reduced mobility could lead to a pathological pattern of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to their seeing counterparts, people with blindness have a greater tactile capacity. Differences in the physiology of object recognition between people with blindness and seeing people have been well documented, but not when tactile stimuli require semantic processing. We used a passive vibrotactile device to focus on the differences in spatial brain processing evaluated with event related potentials (ERP) in children with blindness (n = 12) vs. normally seeing children (n = 12), when learning a simple spatial task (lines with different orientations) or a task involving recognition of letters, to describe the early stages of its temporal sequence (from 80 to 220 msec) and to search for evidence of multi-modal cortical organization. We analysed the P100 of the ERP. Children with blindness showed earlier latencies for cognitive (perceptual) event related potentials, shorter reaction times, and (paradoxically) worse ability to identify the spatial direction of the stimulus. On the other hand, they are equally proficient in recognizing stimuli with semantic content (letters). The last observation is consistent with the role of P100 on somatosensory-based recognition of complex forms. The cortical differences between seeing control and blind groups, during spatial tactile discrimination, are associated with activation in visual pathway (occipital) and task-related association (temporal and frontal) areas. The present results show that early processing of tactile stimulation conveying cross modal information differs in children with blindness or with normal vision.

Regular tactile passive stimulation increases the lasting activation of a greater number of synaptic connections (neuroplasticity) in posterior cortical areas in subjects with blidness with duration and permanence of the neuroplasticity process. Assuming that the lack of stimulation logically involves a deficit due to the cerebral hypofunctionality; in the case of blind subjects such deficit should be more pronounced in the occipital lobe responsible of human vision. We found, after long period of táctile stimulation, that the occipital lobe was activated while having at the same time a visual "qualia" subjective sensation using transcranial magnetic stimulation occipital lobe inhibition decreases visual response.

Objective: The present study analyzes the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale., Methods: The sample of 310 active elderly women with primary school education and living in their own homes. The scale's reliability was examined with Cronbach's alpha and the exploratory factor analysis., Results: The reliability show a value of 0.75. Principal components analysis showed a single factor solution accounting for 51.32% of the variance. Item 5 "The conditions of my life are excellent" explained the highest percentage of variance in the data., Conclusion: These analyses showed acceptable internal consistency.

Quantitative magnetoencephalography (qMEG) was used to investigate differences in the 2 to 60 Hz spectral power, between Alzheimer disease (AD) patients and control subjects. Twenty-two AD patients and 21 age-matched control subjects participated in this study. MEG signal analysis comprised the division of the entire 2 to 60 Hz spectrum in 2 Hz-width subbands. Both the relative power and the contribution of each subband to the correct classification of AD patients and controls were calculated. The relative power in 2 bands comprised between 2 to 4 Hz and 16 to 28 Hz was selected by a restrictive multiple-comparison test, among the entire 2 to 60 Hz spectrum. Using 2 to 4 Hz values it is possible to choose a classification rule with an estimate sensitivity and specificity given by 68% and 76% respectively. Alternatively, when 16 to 28 Hz values are used, it is possible to obtain a better classification rule with an estimate sensitivity and specificity given by 81% and 80%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first electroencephalography or MEG study where a so exhaustive analysis of the magneto-electric spectrum has been performed. This study supports the notion that more attention should be devoted to the study of beta band in AD.

Humans can flexibly alter a plan of action to adjust their behavior adaptively in changing environments. Functional neuroimaging has shown distinct patterns of activation across a frontoparietal network responsible for switching and updating such plans of action or 'task sets.' However, little is known about the temporal order of activations within prefrontal or across with posterior regions subserving set-shifting operations. Here, whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to explore the spatiotemporal brain dynamics in a modified version of the Wisconsin card-sorting test (WCST). Our task was designed to examine preparation of set-shifting rather than set-acquisition operations time locked to context-informative cues. Three cortical regions showed a larger number of MEG activity sources in response to shift and relative to nonshift cues: (a) inferior frontal gyrus (IFG; BA 45, 47/12), (b) anterior cingulate cortex (ACC; BA 24, 32), and (c) supramarginal gyrus (SMG; BA 40). Importantly, the timing of MEG activation differed across these regions. The earliest shift-related MEG activations were detected at the IFG (100-300 ms postcue onset), followed by two further peaks at the ACC (200-300 and 400-500 ms) and the SMG (300-400 and 500-600 ms). Several other prefrontal and posterior cortical areas were similarly activated by both shift and nonshift preparatory cues. The resulting temporal pattern of interactions within prefrontal and across with posterior association cortices is coherent with current models of task switching and provides novel information about the temporal course of brain activations responsible for the executive control of attention.

Aim: We went through a critical review of the current status of neuroimaging studies of cognition. Thus, we argue why the use of a neuronal network perspective could led us to a better understanding of cognition than a localizationism perspective., Method: The question about how cognitive functions are organized in the brain, comes from the very early lesions studies. Electrocortical stimulation and the intracorotid amytal procedure collaborate together with lesions studies to increase the knowledge about the organization of cognitive functions in the brain. Functional neuroimaging could help to this issue answering the following questions: where, when and how the activity is produced in the brain. Many of the functional neuroimaging studies have addressed the question of where the activity is located, but very few has been concentrated into describe the spatio temporal profiles of brain activity, and then how the neural networks which support cognition are organized. Taking into account just one of this perspectives (where or when) we could achieve a reductionism view of the problem., Conclusions: Executive function, memory or language are more distributed than located in just one area, even the different subprocesses that are included in each of this functions are supported by a network rather than a particular area. We analyze the current available functional neuroimaging techniques under this view and its possibilities to describe the neural networks which support cognition.

Introduction: In early stages, dementia is a neurodegenerative process with difficult diagnosis. Although well defined clinically, its neurophysiological, neuroradiological and metabolic diagnosis is still unsuccessful., Patients and Method: A MEG study using a 148 channel whole head magnetometer (Magnes 2500 WH) and evaluation by mini mental state examination (MMSE) was performed in 31 subjects. Statistical analyses was made to correlate number of dipoles of slow waves and neuropsychological variables., Results: The 63.3% (21 patients) show slow waves dipoles in temporal lobes (52.3% were bitemporal). Right temporal lobe has 119.5 23.3 dipoles (averaged value), and left temporal lobe has 126.2 19.8 dipoles (averaged value). The 25% (8 patients) shown slow waves dipoles in parietals lobes, 5 of them biparietal. Correlation between MMSE averaged scores and temporal lobe dipoles was r= 0.84., Conclusion: MEG results show that slow waves dipoles number in temporal lobes is related with low scores in the mini mental state examination. MEG could be a usefully complementary method in evaluation and following of degree of cognitive impairment in these patients

Dyslexia was first described over a century ago and since then many theories have been put forward to explain it, but we still do not have one single unified theory that explains the problem. Furthermore, over the years a great deal of research work has also been carried out that relates dyslexia with disorders in different brain structures, and yet we still do not have a clear idea of exactly which neurophysiological mechanisms are involved. It has been claimed, however, that the disorder may be caused by specific deficits in the left frontotemporal region or atypical asymmetries in the left perisylvian regions. Lastly, neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance or mapping of the electrical activity in the brain, have helped to further studies into dyslexia over the last decade. Recently, the introduction of magnetoencephalography in the study of the brain has opened up a whole new range of possibilities that will allow most of the controversial points raised by research into dyslexia using neuroimaging techniques to be resolved empirically.

Studies of language using different functional neuroimaging techniques have shown the cortical structures to be involved in the functions of language, both in control subjects and in patients with different neurological pathologies who are to undergo brain surgery. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a totally non-invasive technique that measures the magnetic fields generated by the flow of intracellular current produced in the dendrites of the pyramidal neurones. MEG also offers the possibility of lateralizing language, so enabling us to know which areas of language lie within the dominant hemisphere and to establish the temporal patterns that reveal the organisation, either in sequence or in parallel, of the different areas that are activated. This will provide us with a deeper understanding of the physiological foundations upholding both language and other cognitive processes.

Savant syndrome is currently still very mysterious, yet, thanks to the progress made in neuroimaging studies and especially MSI (Magnetic Source Imaging) techniques, a little more is now known about it. The theory, formulated many years ago, about damage to the left hemisphere of the brain has been supported by functional neuroimaging. Its relation to developmental disorders or to autism spectrum disorders is far more justified today and can be explained on the basis of its neuropathology. We present a study based on a review of the scientific literature concerning the syndrome, from the first time it was described back in 1789 by Benjamin Rush up to the present day. We comment on its epidemiology and positive clinical manifestations, involving brilliant artistic talent and dazzling memory, but also the negative aspects suffered by these autistic patients. The most important theories are discussed together with the clinical coincidence with frontotemporal dementia and the responsibility of the right hemisphere when there are alterations in the contralateral hemisphere. The latest contributions made by Positron Emission Tomography and magnetoencephalography will be discussed and a mini-video of a personal case will be projected.

Autism is a rare disease, but is currently in vogue. An incidence of 1/1,000 has been estimated for early childhood autism, but in autism spectrum the incidence can reach 30/1,000. The clinical characteristics of autism are cognitive language disorders, lack of social interaction, obsessive behaviours with stereotypic movements and epilepsy. For some authors it is an associated symptom while for others it is a cardinal symptom of the disease. Epilepsy in autism, as an association, was reported as early as 1944 by Leo Kanner, in describing his initial work involving 11 cases and how one of them suffered from epilepsy. In 1960, the prevalence of epilepsy among autistic patients was evaluated and found to be much higher than in the normal population. The figures differ from author to author, but really they depend on age: the higher the age, the greater the prevalence of epilepsy. It was in fact this detail that drew our attention to this issue, and triggered the first questions in our research into autism and epilepsy. The series vary from 4 to 86%, depending on the methodology used to confirm the epilepsy. In our casuistics, between the ages of 1 and 18 years, 20% of these children with autism spectrum disorders suffer some kind of epileptic seizures, and 80% suffer what other researchers call subclinical seizures . In this paper, the symptomatology of the most important subclinical seizures that have been observed in these children is presented; the diseases associated with autism are commented on; the concept of primary and secondary autism is discussed; we explain why seizures occur in autism and their consequences as a neurodevelopmental disorder, and we put forward an interesting hypothesis within our general theory of autism. We also comment on the importance that the use of functional magnetic images in the study of autism has in our research.

Introduction: Event related potentials are an objective parameter reflecting cognitive functions. Among the event related potentials, the P300 component is viewed as a measure of stimulus evaluation time and it can provide a rough estimate of the time required for perceptual processing. Impairment in cognitive processing, psychomotor retardation and abnormally amplitude and longer P300 latency have been found in depressive patients., Methods: To evaluate the influence of visual and auditory stimuli on the P300 latency we studied 595 patients with major depression. The experimental tasks applied were, first, a series of 300 auditory stimuli: 85% were tones of 1,000 Hz, and 15% were tones of 2,000 Hz, and second, a series of 300 visual stimuli; 85% were black circles on a white background and 15% were black squares on a white background., Results: The results shown an increase of P300 latency in depressive patients during auditory and visual tasks., Discussion: These results are consistent with an impairment in brain function with cortical hypo activity in depressive patients that is associated with cognitive deficit processing. These results determine the clinical utility of P300 in patients with major depression.

Introduction: Whole head magnetoencephalography (MEG) systems facilitate simultaneous recording from the entire brain surface and deep structures. Thus MEG may be accepted as a clinically feasible method for the evaluation of epileptic patients not diagnosed with EEG., Clinical Case: A 11 year old female, with tonic generalized seizures since birth. At the present time, seizures consist of initial focal signs followed by fear sensation and both eyes and cephalic deviation to the right, tonic extension of the superior limbs and prolonged apnea. Complementary examinations (EEG, Holter EEG, Video EEG, CT, MRI, SPECT) were normal. MEG study was conclusive, diagnosing sharp waves in the internal face of the left precentral circunvolution., Conclusions: MEG study s utility in seizures focus localization and pseudo seizures differential diagnosis has been demonstrated.

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disorder characterised by cerebral atrophy with cortical and subcortical changes. Our objective is to investigate the patterns of atrophic changes in the corpus callosum in patients with Alzheimer's disease and healthy elderly subjects and to clarify the relations of callosal impairment and the presence of associated electromyographic responses. We compare cross-sectional area of the corpus callosum by age, group and associated electromyographic responses, using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging from 47 subjects (twenty four healthy subjects and twenty three Alzheimer's disease patients). The control population was selected by criteria of optimal health; medical, neurological or psychiatric illnesses were excluded. We find that the first anterior and medial-anterior corpus callosum areas show an atrophy in Alzheimer group patients. These sectors show a clear relationship with the presence of associated movements.

Brain-imaging research provides evidence to suggest that the underlying disfunction in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is likely to be in the prefrontal cortex-basal ganglia thalamic circuit rather then in any one single brain region. Early computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown morphological changes in the basal ganglia. Now more sophisticated techniques are enhancing the information available, specially with regard to the caudate nucleus. The serotonergic hypothesis remains a necessary but not sufficient explanation for the pathogenesis of OCD. Most evidence remains focussed on the basal ganglia and on a 5-HT/dopamine inter-relationship. Given the basal ganglia receive such rich innervation from both 5-Th and dopamine neurones, it has been postulated that OCD is subserved by a neuronal dysfunction in the basal ganglia and orbitofrontal cortex circuit. Combining behavioural challenge with brain imaging may be a better approach to capturing brain function while patients with OCD and control subjects are actually observed. Using this techniques has made it possible to identified changes in response to treatment, whether the treatment is pharmacological or behavioural. However, there are not data enough that allow us to understand the anatomical, physiological and chemical mechanisms implicated in OCD.

Event related potentials have been examined in depression and Alzheimer disease like clinical utility. To evaluate the influence of visual and auditory stimuli on the P300 latency we studied 12 patients with major depression, 12 patients with Alzheimer disease and 12 normal subjects. The experimental tasks applied was, first a series of 300 auditory stimuli, 255 (85%), with tones of 1,000 Hz, and considered as the frequent stimulus, whereas 45 (15%) were tones of 2,000 Hz and referred as the rare stimulus. A second series of 300 visual stimuli, 255 (85%) that were black circles on a white background, and considered the frequent stimulus (9 cm diameter, 200 ms duration), whereas 45 (15%) were black squares on a white background and referred as the rare stimulus (9 cm diameter, 200 ms duration) in the centre of a computer screen. The results show an increase of P300 latency in depressive and Alzheimer patients during auditory and visual tasks. Differences were found in reaction time to visual or auditory stimuli in Alzheimer disease. These results are consistent with an impairment in brain function in depressive patients that is associated with cortical hypoactivity and deficits in perceptive, auditory or visual, functions, whereas deterioration in Alzheimer's disease is sensorymotor, according to the slowness latency in the reaction time.

Introduction: Lesions of the pyramidal system are characterized by their effects on qualitative aspects of movement. One of the features of pyramidal defects is the presence of associated movements or synkinesis., Clinical Case: We present a case with residual associated electromyographic (EMG) response in a patient who had had a capsular stroke 11 months previously. The patient presented with acute onset of a syndrome of purely motor right hemiparesis (PMH) which improved satisfactorily with complete functional recovery three months later. Eleven months after the acute episode, there was good functional recovery and neurophysiological examination showed the presence of EMG responses associated with the unaffected limb (left hand) when voluntary movements were made with the right hand., Conclusion: The appearance of qualitative alterations of movement associated with pyramidal syndromes and particularly the presence of associated EMG responses in the case of capsular infarct described, may reflect the different processes of reinnervation and functional reorganization which occur following the lesion and which are involved in recovery of motor function.

Ten normal children (mean age = 9 years) and 12 dyslexic children (mean age = 8.1 years) were compared for latency, amplitude and topographic distribution of both parameters of P300. We found a significant increase in P300 latency in the dyslexic group. Noteworthy is the increase in amplitude in the central parietal area in the control group. These facts and their incidence are discussed in the present study.