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Neuroscience evidence suggests that adolescent obesity is linked to brain dysfunctions associated with enhanced reward and somatosensory processing and reduced impulse control during food processing. Comparatively less is known about the role of more stable brain structural measures and their link to personality traits and neuropsychological factors on the presentation of adolescent obesity. Here we aimed to investigate regional brain anatomy in adolescents with excess weight vs. lean controls. We also aimed to contrast the associations between brain structure and personality and cognitive measures in both groups. Fifty-two adolescents (16 with normal weight and 36 with excess weight) were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging and completed the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), the UPPS-P scale, and the Stroop task. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to assess possible between-group differences in regional gray matter (GM) and to measure the putative differences in the way reward and punishment sensitivity, impulsivity and inhibitory control relate to regional GM volumes, which were analyzed using both region of interest (ROI) and whole brain analyses. The ROIs included areas involved in reward/somatosensory processing (striatum, somatosensory cortices) and motivation/impulse control (hippocampus, prefrontal cortex). Excess weight adolescents showed increased GM volume in the right hippocampus. Voxel-wise volumes of the second somatosensory cortex (SII) were correlated with reward sensitivity and positive urgency in lean controls, but this association was missed in excess weight adolescents. Moreover, Stroop performance correlated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex volumes in controls but not in excess weight adolescents. Adolescents with excess weight have structural abnormalities in brain regions associated with somatosensory processing and motivation.

To experimentally examine if adolescents with excess weight are more sensitive to social stress and hence more sensitive to harmful effects of stress in cognition. We conducted an experimental study in 84 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old classified in two groups based on age adjusted Body Mass Index percentile: Normal weight (n=42) and Excess weight (n=42). Both groups were exposed to social stress as induced by the virtual reality version of the Trier Social Stress Task--participants were requested to give a public speech about positive and negative aspects of their personalities in front of a virtual audience. The outcome measures were salivary cortisol levels and performance in cognitive tests before and after the social stressor. Cognitive tests included the CANTAB Rapid Visual Processing Test (measuring attention response latency and discriminability) and the Iowa Gambling Task (measuring decision-making). Adolescents with excess weight compared to healthy weight controls displayed increased cortisol response and less improvement of attentional performance after the social stressor. Decision-making performance decreased after the social stressor in both groups. Adolescents who are overweight or obese have increased sensitivity to social stress, which detrimentally impacts attentional skills.

The purpose of this instrumental study was to show how to conduct a study aimed at obtaining content validity evidence in the test construction/adaptation process. An applied perspective was used, and this paper presents the content validity analysis of the Spanish adaptation of the State-Trait Cheerfulness Inventory trait form (STCI-T). This paper illustrates the stages required to analyze content validity: 1) definition of the content domain to be assessed, 2) item construction, and 3) expert judgment of the items constructed. This study focused mainly on the third stage and the results obtained with a previously selected panel of experts are included. The paper briefly describes the most important criteria to consider in the selection of experts, the procedure recommended to obtain judgments, the material to administer, aspects of items to assess, and the type of analyses that should be conducted. Based on the results obtained for the Spanish adaptation of the STCI-T, the article discusses the importance of obtaining content validity evidence in the test construction/adaptation process. The indices used demonstrated good content validity for the Spanish version of the STCI-T. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar los efectos de un programa breve de mindfulness adaptado al contexto del aula, en relación con el nivel de mindfulness (MAAS), evitación experiencial (AAQ-II), ansiedad (STAI) y satisfacción vital (SWLS). La muestra estuvo conformada por 115 estudiantes universitarios. Tras la participación en el programa, los estudiantes aumentaron significativamente los niveles de satisfacción vital y ansiedad estado, no se encontraron diferencias en el resto de variables. Sin embargo, el aumento de la satisfacción vital se relacionó con el aumento del nivel de mindfulness al final del programa (coincidiendo con el inicio de los exámenes). En conclusión, un programa breve de mindfulness mejora la satisfacción vital, aun en un período de alto nivel de ansiedad como es el periodo de exámenes.