Examinando por Autor "Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia"
Mostrando 1 - 20 de 31
Resultados por página
Opciones de ordenación
Ítem Amygdala structure and function and its associations with social-emotional outcomes in a low-risk preterm sample(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024-03) Fernández de Gamarra Oca, Lexuri; Lucas Jiménez, Olaia; Ontañón Garcés , José María; Loureiro Gonzalez, Begoña; Peña Lasa, Javier; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; García Guerrero, Acebo; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia; Zubiaurre Elorza, LeireAmygdala atypical volume development and functional connectivity (FC) at small gestational ages (GA) have been found across childhood. This adult-oriented study assesses whether altered amygdala structure and function is present following low-risk preterm birth. T1-weighted and resting-state functional MRI images of 33 low-risk preterm (30–36 weeks’ GA) and 29 full-term (37–42 weeks’ GA) young adults of both sexes, aged between 20 and 32 years old, were analyzed using FreeSurfer (v6.0.0) and Coon Toolbox (v21.a). The social-emotional assessment included Happé’s Strange Stories Test, the Moral Judgment Test, Delay-Discounting Test, Adult Self Report, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. No differences were found in social-emotional outcomes or amygdala volumes between the groups. Low-risk preterm young adults showed increased FC between the left amygdala, right amygdala and medial frontal cortex (MedFC) (F = 9.89, p-FWE = 0.009) at cluster level compared to their full-term peers. However, significant results at connection level were not observed between left and right amygdala. Lastly, increased FC at cluster level between the right amygdala and MedFC, and left amygdala and MedFC, was related to better social-emotional outcomes only in low-risk preterm young adults (F = 6.60, p-FWE = 0.036) at cluster level. At connection level, in contrast, only right amygdala–MedFC increased FC was significantly associated with better social-emotional outcomes. This study reveals that low-risk prematurity does not have an effect on social-emotional outcomes or structural amygdala volumes during young adulthood. However, individuals who were considered to be at a lower risk of exhibiting neurodevelopmental alterations following preterm birth demonstrated increased FC between the left and right amygdala and MedFC.Ítem Analyzing structural and functional brain changes related to an integrative cognitive remediation program for schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial(Elsevier B.V., 2023-05) Sampedro, Agurne; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa ; Peña Lasa, Javier ; Cabrera Zubizarreta, Alberto; Sánchez Gómez, Pedro Manuel ; Gómez Gastiasoro, Ainara; Iriarte Yoller, Nagore ; Pavón, Cristóbal ; Tous Espelosín, Mikel ; Ojeda del Pozo, NataliaCognitive remediation has been shown to improve cognition in schizophrenia, but little is known about the specific functional and structural brain changes related to the implementation of an integrative cognitive remediation program. This study analyzed the functional and structural brain changes identified after implementing an integrative cognitive remediation program, REHACOP, in schizophrenia. The program combined cognitive remediation, social cognitive training, and functional and social skills training. The sample included 59 patients that were assigned to either the REHACOP group or an active control group for 20 weeks. In addition to a clinical and neuropsychological assessment, T1-weighted, diffusion-weighted and functional magnetic resonance images were acquired during a resting-state and during a memory paradigm, both at baseline and follow-up. Voxel-based morphometry, tract-based spatial statistics, resting-state functional connectivity, and brain activation analyses during the memory paradigm were performed. Brain changes were assessed with a 2 × 2 repeated-measure analysis of covariance for group x time interaction. Intragroup paired t-tests were also carried out. Repeated-measure analyses revealed improvements in cognition and functional outcome, but no significant brain changes associated with the integrative cognitive remediation program. Intragroup analyses showed greater gray matter volume and cortical thickness in right temporal regions at post-treatment in the REHACOP group. The absence of significant brain-level results associated with cognitive remediation may be partly due to the small sample size, which limited the statistical power of the study. Therefore, further research is needed to clarify whether the temporal lobe may be a key area involved in cognitive improvements following cognitive remediation.Ítem Brain degeneration in synucleinopathies based on analysis of cognition and other nonmotor features: a multimodal imaging study(MDPI, 2023-02-15) Lucas Jiménez, Olaia; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Diez, Ibai; Peña Lasa, Javier ; Tijero Merino, Beatriz; Galdos Iztueta, Marta; Murueta-Goyena Larrañaga, Ane; Pino, Rocío del; Acera Gil, María Ángeles ; Gómez Esteban, Juan Carlos; Gabilondo Cuellar, Iñigo; Ojeda del Pozo, NataliaBackground: We aimed to characterize subtypes of synucleinopathies using a clustering approach based on cognitive and other nonmotor data and to explore structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain differences between identified clusters. Methods: Sixty-two patients (n = 6 E46K-SNCA, n = 8 dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and n = 48 idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD)) and 37 normal controls underwent nonmotor evaluation with extensive cognitive assessment. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was performed on patients’ samples based on nonmotor variables. T1, diffusion-weighted, and resting-state functional MRI data were acquired. Whole-brain comparisons were performed. Results: HCA revealed two subtypes, the mild subtype (n = 29) and the severe subtype (n = 33). The mild subtype patients were slightly impaired in some nonmotor domains (fatigue, depression, olfaction, and orthostatic hypotension) with no detectable cognitive impairment; the severe subtype patients (PD patients, all DLB, and the symptomatic E46K-SNCA carriers) were severely impaired in motor and nonmotor domains with marked cognitive, visual and bradykinesia alterations. Multimodal MRI analyses suggested that the severe subtype exhibits widespread brain alterations in both structure and function, whereas the mild subtype shows relatively mild disruptions in occipital brain structure and function. Conclusions: These findings support the potential value of incorporating an extensive nonmotor evaluation to characterize specific clinical patterns and brain degeneration patterns of synucleinopathies.Ítem Brain white matter correlates of creativity in schizophrenia: a diffusion tensor imaging study(Frontiers Media S.A., 2020-06-23) Sampedro, Agurne; Peña Lasa, Javier; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Cabrera Zubizarreta, Alberto; Sánchez Gómez, Pedro Manuel; Gómez Gastiasoro, Ainara; Iriarte Yoller, Nagore; Pavón, Cristóbal; Ojeda del Pozo, NataliaThe relationship between creativity and psychopathology has been a controversial research topic for decades. Specifically, it has been shown that people with schizophrenia have an impairment in creative performance. However, little is known about the brain correlates underlying this impairment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze whole brain white matter (WM) correlates of several creativity dimensions in people with schizophrenia. Fifty-five patients with schizophrenia underwent diffusion-weighted imaging on a 3T magnetic resonance imaging machine as well as a clinical and a creativity assessment, including verbal and figural creativity measures. Tract-based spatial statistic, implemented in FMRIB Software Library (FSL), was used to assess whole brain WM correlates with different creativity dimensions, controlling for sex, age, premorbid IQ, and medication. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) in frontal, temporal, subcortical, brain stem, and interhemispheric regions correlated positively with figural originality. The most significant clusters included the right corticospinal tract (cerebral peduncle part) and the right body of the corpus callosum. Verbal creativity did not show any significant correlation. As a whole, these findings suggest that widespread WM integrity is involved in creative performance of patients with schizophrenia. Many of these areas have also been related to creativity in healthy people. In addition, some of these regions have shown to be particularly impaired in schizophrenia, suggesting that these WM alterations could be underlying the worse creative performance found in this pathology.Ítem CBLL1 is hypomethylated and correlates with cortical thickness in transgender men before gender affirming hormone treatment(Nature Research, 2023-12-07) Fernández, Rosa; Zubiaurre Elorza, Leire ; Santisteban, Andrea; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia ; Collet, Sarah; Kiyar, Meltem; T’Sjoen, Guy; Mueller, Sven C.; Guillamon, Antonio; Pásaro, EduardoGender identity refers to the consciousness of being a man, a woman or other condition. Although it is generally congruent with the sex assigned at birth, for some people it is not. If the incongruity is distressing, it is defined as gender dysphoria (GD). Here, we measured whole-genome DNA methylation by the Illumina © Infinium Human Methylation 850k array and reported its correlation with cortical thickness (CTh) in 22 transgender men (TM) experiencing GD versus 25 cisgender men (CM) and 28 cisgender women (CW). With respect to the methylation analysis, TM vs. CW showed significant differences in 35 CpGs, while 2155 CpGs were found when TM vs. CM were compared. With respect to correlation analysis, TM showed differences in methylation of CBLL1 and DLG1 genes that correlated with global and left hemisphere CTh. Both genes were hypomethylated in TM compared to the cisgender groups. Early onset TM showed a positive correlation between CBLL1 and several cortical regions in the frontal (left caudal middle frontal), temporal (right inferior temporal, left fusiform) and parietal cortices (left supramarginal and right paracentral). This is the first study relating CBLL1 methylation with CTh in transgender persons and supports a neurodevelopmental hypothesis of gender identity.Ítem Cognitive, creative, functional, and clinical symptom improvements in schizophrenia after an integrative cognitive remediation program: a randomized controlled trial(Nature Research, 2021-12) Sampedro, Agurne; Peña Lasa, Javier; Sánchez Gómez, Pedro Manuel; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Gómez Gastiasoro, Ainara; Iriarte Yoller, Nagore; Pavón, Cristóbal; Tous Espelosín, Mikel; Ojeda del Pozo, NataliaThis study analyzed the effectiveness of an integrative cognitive remediation program (REHACOP) in improving neurocognition, social cognition, creativity, functional outcome, and clinical symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. In addition, possible mediators predicting improvement in functional outcomes were explored. The program combined cognitive remediation with social cognitive training and social and functional skill training over 20 weeks. The sample included 94 patients, 47 in the REHACOP group and 47 in the active control group (occupational activities). Significant differences were found between the two groups in change scores of processing speed, working memory, verbal memory (VM), inhibition, theory of mind, emotion processing (EP), figural creative strengths, functional competence, disorganization, excitement, and primary negative symptoms. A mediational analysis revealed that changes in VM, inhibition, and EP partially explained the effect of cognitive remediation on functional competence improvement. This study provides initial evidence of the effect of integrative cognitive remediation on primary negative symptoms and creativity.Ítem Contributions of sex, depression, and cognition on brain connectivity dynamics in Parkinson’s disease(Nature Research, 2021-12-16) Díez Cirarda, María ; Gabilondo Cuellar, Iñigo; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Gómez Esteban, Juan Carlos; Kim, Jinhee; Lucas Jiménez, Olaia; Pino, Rocío del; Peña Lasa, Javier ; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia ; Mihaescu, Alexander; Valli, Mikaeel; Acera Gil, María Ángeles ; Cabrera Zubizarreta, Alberto ; Gómez Beldarrain, María Ángeles ; Strafella, Antonio P.Alterations in time-varying functional connectivity (FC) have been found in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. To date, very little is known about the influence of sex on brain FC in PD patients and how this could be related to disease severity. The first objective was to evaluate the influence of sex on dynamic FC characteristics in PD patients and healthy controls (HC), while the second aim was to investigate the temporal patterns of dynamic connectivity related to PD motor and non-motor symptoms. Ninety-nine PD patients and sixty-two HC underwent a neuropsychological and clinical assessment. Rs-fMRI and T1-weighted MRI were also acquired. Dynamic FC analyses were performed in the GIFT toolbox. Dynamic FC analyses identified two States: State I, characterized by within-network positive coupling; and State II that showed between-network connectivity, mostly involving somatomotor and visual networks. Sex differences were found in dynamic indexes in HC but these differences were not observed in PD. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified three phenotypically distinct PD subgroups: (1) Subgroup A was characterized by mild motor symptoms; (2) Subgroup B was characterized by depressive and motor symptoms; (3) Subgroup C was characterized by cognitive and motor symptoms. Results revealed that changes in the temporal properties of connectivity were related to the motor/non-motor outcomes of PD severity. Findings suggest that while in HC sex differences may play a certain role in dynamic connectivity patterns, in PD patients, these effects may be overcome by the neurodegenerative process. Changes in the temporal properties of connectivity in PD were mainly related to the clinical markers of PD severity.Ítem The effect of changing the balance between right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on different creativity tasks: a transcranial random noise stimulation study(Creative Education Foudation, 2021-12) Peña Lasa, Javier; Sampedro, Agurne; Gómez-Gastiasoro, Ainara; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Zubiaurre Elorza, Leire; Aguiar, Covadonga; Ojeda del Pozo, NataliaTranscranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) increases performance in some perceptual tasks. However, little is known about its effect on creativity. Although dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been postulated as an important cortical area related to creativity, the relative role of left and right DLPFC is still unclear. We aimed to compare the effect of anodal left/cathodal right (L + R−) and cathodal left/anodal right (L − R+) tRNS over the DLPFC. Eighty-four participants were randomly assigned to L + R−, L−R+ or sham group. Current was set at 2 mA (100–500 Hz) with a 1 mA direct current offset (20 min). Creativity was assessed before and during tRNS with the Remotes Associates Test (RAT), Unusual Uses (UU) and Picture Completion (PC) from Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, nine-dot problem and matchstick arithmetic problems. Bootstrapped analysis of covariance (under-stimulation scores controlling for baseline) showed that L + R− and L − R+ groups had higher scores than sham in UU whereas only L + R− improved in RAT compared to sham. The L − R+ group performed significantly better than L + R− and sham groups in PC, nine-dot problem and matchstick arithmetic problems. L + R− DLPFC may help verbal creative thinking whereas the L − R + seems to produce a “releasing effect” through insight problem solving and originality.Ítem Effects of transcranial electrical stimulation techniques on foreign vocabulary learning(Elsevier B.V., 2023-02-13) Balboa Bandeira, Yolanda ; Zubiaurre Elorza, Leire ; García Guerrero, Acebo; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa ; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia ; Peña Lasa, JavierAlthough the use of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) techniques on healthy population has been linked to facilitating language learning, studies on their effects on foreign language learning processes are scarce and results remain unclear. The objective of this study was to analyze whether tES enhances foreign language learning processes. Sixty-four healthy native Spanish-speaking participants were randomly assigned to four groups (transcranial direct current, transcranial random noise, tDCS-tRNS stimulation, or sham). They completed two intervention sessions with a two-week gap in between. During the first session the participants received stimulation (1.5 mA) while learning new English words and then performed recall and recognition tasks. Learning was assessed at follow-up, two weeks later. No differences in learning between groups were observed in the first session (F(1,61)= .86; p = .36). At follow-up, significantly higher learning accuracy was observed after tRNS compared to sham (p = .037). These results suggest that tRNS could be helpful in improving the processes involved in foreign language vocabulary learning.Ítem Effects of transcranial electrical stimulation techniques on second and foreign language learning enhancement in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis(Elsevier Ltd, 2021-09-17) Balboa Bandeira, Yolanda; Zubiaurre Elorza, Leire; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia; Peña Lasa, JavierBackground: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) techniques have been used to enhance different cognitive domains such as language in healthy adults. While several reviews and meta-analysis have been conducted on the effects of tES on different language skills (picture naming, verbal fluency, word reading), there has been little research conducted to date on the effects of tES on the processes involved in foreign language learning. Objective: A meta-analysis was performed to quantify the effects of tES on foreign language learning processes (non-words, artificial grammar, and foreign languages), focusing on accuracy, response times and 1-week follow-up effects, if reported by the studies. Results: Eleven studies that had sham condition were reviewed. Nine of them were analyzed, including five using within-participant design, and four that employed between-participant design. The final analysis encompassed nine studies with 279 healthy participants. The analysis showed moderate enhancing effects of tES on overall language learning (g = 0.50, 95 % CI [0.29, 0.71], p = .0001). However, results were not significant on follow up data (g = 0.54, 95 % CI [-0.12, 1.20], p = .07), and on response times (g = 0.50, 95 % CI [-0.1, 1.18], p = .10). The effects were significantly moderated by years of education. Conclusions: The results suggest that tES seems to enhance the mechanisms involved in foreign language learning; however, more research is needed to understand the impact scope of these techniques on language learning processes.Ítem Electrophysiological evidence for a Whorfian double dissociation of categorical perception across two languages(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2024-06) Casaponsa Gali, Aina; García Guerrero, Acebo; Martínez, Alejandro; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia; Thierry, Guillaume; Athanasopoulos, PanosTaza in Spanish refers to cups and mugs in English, whereas glass refers to different glass types in Spanish: copa and vaso. It is still unclear whether such categorical distinctions induce early perceptual differences in speakers of different languages. In this study, for the first time, we report symmetrical effects of terminology on preattentive indices of categorical perception across languages. Native speakers of English or Spanish saw arrays of cups, mugs, copas, and vasos flashed in streams. Visual mismatch negativity, an implicit electrophysiological correlate of perceptual change in the peripheral visual field, was modulated for categorical contrasts marked in the participants’ native language but not for objects designated by the same label. Conversely, P3a, an index of attentional orienting, was modulated only for missing contrasts in the participants’ native language. Thus, whereas native labels influenced participants’ preattentive perceptual encoding of objects, nonverbally encoded dissociations reoriented their attention at a later processing stage.Ítem Enhancement of divergent creative thinking after transcranial near-infrared photobiomodulation over the default mode network(Routledge, 2024) Peña Lasa, Javier; Muthalib, Makii; Beaty, Roger E.; Sampedro, Agurne; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Zubiaurre Elorza, Leire; García Guerrero, Acebo; Cortazar, Ibon; Niso, Mikel; Ojeda del Pozo, NataliaTranscranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) has been used for cognitive enhancement in healthy people. However, its effect on creativity has not been investigated. The default mode network (DMN) is associated with divergent thinking (DT; but not convergent thinking, CT), and also with anxiety, which in turn has been negatively related to creativity. We aimed to use tPBM over the DMN to assess the effect on DT compared to sham. Additionally, we assessed the possible mediating effect of anxiety between tPBM and DT. In this single-blind, between-subjects study, 58 healthy participants were randomly assigned to tPBM or sham group. tPBM was applied using near-infrared light (810 nm, 40 Hz; 50% duty cycle), through light-emitting diode devices combining transcranial plus intranasal PBM over the cortical nodes of the DMN for 20 min (240 J/cm2 in total). DT and CT were assessed before (baseline) and after tPBM with the Unusual Uses (UU), Picture Completion (PC) and Remote Associates test (RAT). ANCOVA (post-stimulation controlling for baseline) results showed that tPBM group had significantly higher scores compared to sham in total UU, PC, and total DT. tPBM may be effective for DT enhancement. The lack of effect on CT reveals a specific link between DMN and DT.Ítem Enhancement of phonemic verbal fluency in multilingual young adults by transcranial random noise stimulation(Elsevier Ltd, 2024-06) Balboa Bandeira, Yolanda; Zubiaurre Elorza, Leire; García Guerrero, Acebo; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia; Peña Lasa, JavierSeveral studies have analyzed the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on verbal fluency tasks in non-clinical populations. Nevertheless, the reported effects on verbal fluency are inconsistent. In addition, the effect of other techniques such as transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) on verbal fluency enhancement has yet to be studied in healthy multilingual populations. This study aims to explore the effects of tRNS on verbal fluency in healthy multilingual individuals. Fifty healthy multilingual (Spanish, English and Basque) adults were randomly assigned to a tRNS or sham group. Electrodes were placed on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left inferior frontal gyrus. All participants performed phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tasks before, during (online assessment) and immediately after (offline assessment) stimulation in three different languages. The results showed significantly better performance by participants who received tRNS in the phonemic verbal fluency tasks in Spanish (in the online and offline assessment) and English (in the offline assessment). No differences between conditions were found in Basque nor semantic verbal fluency. These findings suggests that tRNS on the left prefrontal cortex could help improve phonemic, yet not semantic, fluency in healthy multilingual adultsÍtem Enhancing creativity with combined transcranial direct current and random noise stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2023-03) Peña Lasa, Javier; Muthalib, Makii; Sampedro, Agurne; Cardoso-Botelho, Mafalda; Zabala Gómez, Oihana; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; García Guerrero, Acebo; Zubiaurre Elorza, Leire; Ojeda del Pozo, NataliaCreativity is a fundamental human accomplishment from scientific advances to composing music. The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) are important metacontrol hubs in flexibility and persistence brain states, respectively. Those hubs are related to divergent thinking, insight problem-solving, and convergent thinking. In this double-blind, between-subjects study, 81 healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 27) that received a combined transcranial direct current stimulation–transcranial random noise stimulation (tDCS-tRNS) protocol with the anode over the left DLPFC and cathode over the left IFG (+DLPFC−IFG), the opposite montage (−DLPFC+IFG), and a sham group (+DLPFC−IFG). Both active tDCS-tRNS groups received 20 min of 1 mA tDCS with 1 mA (100–500 Hz) tRNS. Creativity was assessed before (baseline) and during stimulation with the Unusual Uses, Picture Completion (PC), Remote Association test (RAT), Matchstick Arithmetic (MA), and Nine-dot (ND) problems. Only the +DLPFC−IFG group had significantly higher scores compared with sham in the RAT (p =.009), PC fluency (p =.018), PC originality (p =.007), ND (p =.007), and MA (p =.032). Overall, −DLPFC+IFG had greater scores in all creativity tests compared with sham. Implications from the metacontrol theory are discussed.Ítem Hippocampal volumes and cognitive performance in children born extremely preterm with and without low-grade intraventricular haemorrhage(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023-06) Fernández de Gamarra Oca, Lexuri; Kvanta, Hedvig; Broström, Lina; Nosko, Daniela; Eklöf, E.; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia; Zubiaurre Elorza, Leire; Padilla, Nelly; Ådén, UlrikaChildren born extremely preterm, especially those with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), are at increased risk of adverse cognitive outcomes during childhood. The present study aimed to explore the effects of IVH (grades I–II) on hippocampal volumes, and their correlates with cognitive performance. The sample consisted of 94 participants, including 54 children born extremely preterm (19 with IVH, grades I–II), and 40 children born at term. All participants underwent a magnetic resonance imaging study at the age of 10 (Mage = 10.20 years; SDage = 0.78), and 74 of them (45 extremely preterm and 29 full-term) carried out a cognitive assessment at 12 years old. Children born extremely preterm had lower scores in cognitive performance compared to their full-term peers. Significant positive partial correlations were observed between global bilateral hippocampus, left CA-field, and left subiculum volumes with processing speed in the full-term group, while no significant correlations were found in the extremely preterm group. Moderation analyses in the extremely preterm sample revealed that low-grade IVH moderated the relationship between right hippocampal volume and full-IQ (F(4,40) =5.42, p = 0.001, R2 = 0.35). Having greater right hippocampal volume had a protective effect on full-IQ in those children born extremely preterm with low-grade IVH.Ítem The impact of creativity on functional outcome in schizophrenia: a mediational model(Nature Research, 2021-02-26) Sampedro, Agurne ; Peña Lasa, Javier; Sánchez Gómez, Pedro Manuel; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Iriarte Yoller, Nagore; Pavón, Cristóbal; Hervella Garcés, Isabel; Tous Espelosín, Mikel; Ojeda del Pozo, NataliaFunctional impairment remains one of the most challenging issues for treatment in schizophrenia. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the negative impact of symptoms excluding variables that could positively impact functional outcome, such as creativity, which is considered an adaptive capacity for real-life problem-solving. This study analyzed the predictive role of creativity on functional outcome in 96 patients with schizophrenia through a mediational model, including sociodemographic, clinical, neurocognitive, and social cognitive variables. Path analysis revealed that creativity significantly mediated the relationship between neurocognition and functional outcome, and that creativity mediated between negative symptoms and functional outcome. Additionally, neurocognition was directly associated with functional outcome and social functioning was associated with creativity. The involvement of creativity in functional outcome could have relevant implications for the development of new interventions. These findings open up a new field of research on additional personal resources as possible factors of functional outcome in schizophrenia and other diseasesÍtem Improvement in creativity after transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(Nature Publishing Group, 2019-12) Peña Lasa, Javier; Sampedro, Agurne; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Zubiaurre Elorza, Leire; Ojeda del Pozo, NataliaCreativity has previously been shown to improve after the application of direct and alternating current transcranial stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, previous studies have not tested whether transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) was efficient for this purpose. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to investigate the effect of tRNS on both verbal convergent and (verbal and visual) divergent thinking during left DLPFC tRNS stimulation. Thirty healthy participants were randomly allocated to either a tRNS active group or a sham group. Each session lasted 20 min and the current was set to 1.5 mA (100–500 Hz). Participants’ verbal convergent thinking was assessed with the Remote Associates Test (RAT). Verbal and visual divergent thinking were respectively measured by using the Unusual Uses and Picture Completion subtests from the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Bootstrapped analysis of variance showed significant differences in the mean change scores between the active tRNS group and the sham group in RAT scores (d = 1.68); unusual uses: fluency (d = 2.29) and originality (d = 1.43); and general creativity (d = 1.45). Visual divergent thinking, in contrast, did not show any significant improvement. Our results suggested that tRNS over the left DLPFC is effective for increasing verbal divergent and convergent thinking.Ítem Long-term brain structural and cognitive outcomes in a low-risk preterm-born sample(Nature Research, 2024-12) Fernández de Gamarra Oca, Lexuri; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia; Ontañón Garcés , José María; Loureiro González, Begoña; Gómez-Gastiasoro, Ainara; Peña Lasa, Javier; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; García Guerrero, Acebo; Zubiaurre Elorza, LeirePrematurity has been related to altered brain structure and cognition, and so our aim was to describe them in the absence of major structural brain injury following low-risk preterm birth during adolescence and young adulthood. The sample consisted of 250 participants, 132 of whom were low-risk preterm (30–36 weeks’ gestational age) and 118 were full-term individuals (37–42 weeks’ gestational age), aged between 16 and 38 years old. All participants underwent an extensive neuropsychological assessment. T1- and diffusion-weighted MRI images of 33 low-risk preterm and 31 full-term young adults (20–32 years old) were analyzed. No differences were found in terms of general cognitive functioning score or current socioeconomic status; however, the low-risk preterm group obtained lower scores in phonetic and semantic fluencies, and theory of mind. Significant reductions were identified in the thalamus volume as well as thicker cortex in the inferior temporal gyrus in the low-risk preterm group. Low-risk preterm young adults evidenced greater regional AD and MD compared to the full-term sample; while low-risk preterm group showed lower mean NDI and ODI (FWE-corrected, p < 0.05). Being born preterm is associated with poorer performance in various cognitive domains (i.e., phonetic and semantic fluencies, and theory of mind) later in life, along with differences in normative structural brain development in inferior temporal gyrus and regional white matter microstructure.Ítem Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes after moderate and late preterm birth: a systematic review(Mosby Inc., 2021-10) Fernández de Gamarra Oca, Lexuri; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia; Gómez-Gastiasoro, Ainara; Peña Lasa, Javier; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; García Guerrero, Acebo; Loureiro González, Begoña; Zubiaurre Elorza, LeireObjective: To systematically review and perform meta-analyses on the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of adults born moderate and late preterm (MLPT) in relation to cognitive functioning and psychiatric disorders. Study design: A search was conducted to identify any studies that involved prematurity in adulthood. From these studies, reports that included a group of MLPT adults and included description of cognitive and/or mental health domains (including specific long-term outcomes) were selected. Results: In total, 155 publications were identified, but only 16 papers met the inclusion criteria. A small effect size (g = 0.38) was found in MLPT to demonstrate poorer intellectual performance compared with those born at term. Moreover, MLPT adults exhibited greater odds for any psychiatric (OR 1.14), substance use (OR 1.16), mood (OR 1.06), and psychotic disorders (OR 1.40). Conclusions: Despite inconsistency due to the methodologic differences between the selected studies, MLPT showed minor long-term effects into adulthood. However, more studies are needed, because prematurity seems to confer some vulnerability to biological and environmental factors that enhance susceptibility to adverse neurodevelopment outcomes.Ítem Maternal care and general cognitive functioning in moderate and late preterm-born children(Elsevier Ltd, 2022-10) Fernández de Gamarra Oca, Lexuri; Ojeda del Pozo, Natalia; Loureiro González, Begoña; Sierra Ibarbia, Andrea; García Guerrero, Acebo; Peña Lasa, Javier; Ibarretxe Bilbao, Naroa; Zubiaurre Elorza, LeireAim: To establish the neuropsychological profile in moderate and late preterm (MLPT) samples during childhood, and to assess the potential role of early life environmental factors in cognitive outcomes. Methods: One hundred-and-six children took part in this study, including 42 moderate preterm (Mage=11.57 years; Mdage: 12; SDage=1.77), 33 late preterm (Mage=12.21 years; Mdage: 12; SDage=0.78) and 31 full-term children (Mage=11.42 years; Mdage: 12; SDage=1.84). All participants underwent an environmental, emotional-behavioural, life satisfaction, functionality, resilience, and cognitive assessment. Results: Significant differences were found in several cognitive domains among groups. Further, the maternal care measure moderated the relationship between the degree of maturity/immaturity at birth and general cognitive functioning score (F(4,1014101)= 3.72, p = 0.007, R2 = 0.13). Conclusions: The findings showed different neuropsychological profiles during childhood, with the moderate preterm sample reporting lower values. Additionally, the appropriate level of maternal care measure used in this study seems to have had a protective effect on cognitive development.