This study analyzes the factorial validity and reliability of the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire (ZKA-PQ/SF) in Uruguay. The scale, composed of 80 items, evaluates Zuckerman's alternative five-factor model. The sample for the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) included 490 participants. A five-factor structure with four facets per factor was confirmed, explaining 32% of the variance with high factor loadings. In the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), conducted with 380 participants, seven structural models were tested, with the hierarchical ESEM model showing the best fit. Across all evaluated indices, the results were adequate. Overall, the ZKA-PQ/SF demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties comparable to the original version, supporting its use in the Uruguayan population.
The aim of the study was to validate two complementary instruments for the Argentine population: the Mind-Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ) and the Mind Wandering and Emotional Valence Scale (EDMVE), and to examine their relationships with creative personality, imagination, and executive functions. Participants were 201 Argentine adults (74.1% women, M = 32.5 years). Scales of creative personality (EPC), imagination (FFIS), inhibition and working memory (ADEXI), and cognitive flexibility (CFS) were administered. Confirmatory Factor Analyses with robust DWLS estimator and Spearman correlations were performed. The MWQ maintained a unifactorial structure (CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = .00, omega = .89). The EDMVE confirmed a two-factor structure (CFI = .997, RMSEA = .020, omega = .77-.93). Evidence of convergent validity between MWQ and negative mind wandering, discriminant validity between EDMVE factors, and concurrent validity with external variables were obtained. Valid and reliable Argentine versions of both instruments were obtained, providing complementary tools to assess mind wandering from general and emotional perspectives.
An increase in dementia is projected in the coming years, with Latin America being one of the most affected regions. Given this situation, new and improved tests for early detection are needed. The objective of this study was to obtain normative data for a recently developed test, the Verbal Auditory Screening of Cognitive Alterations Test (CAVAC), and to investigate the potential effects of demographic variables on its performance. 363 Argentinians from the general population (mean age: 66.2 years) were assessed using the CAVAC. Bivariate and regression analyses were performed to determine the influence of education, age, and sex on CAVAC performance. Education had a positive and significant influence on CAVAC performance. Furthermore, a negative correlation was found between age and CAVAC performance, and women showed better performance; however, these analyses for age and sex did not reach statistical significance. Argentinian norms were developed according to educational level. Further normative studies are suggested that include a larger number of adults with low educational attainment and a higher proportion of men.
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is strongly associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This cross-sectional study investigated clinical and neurocognitive differences in 193 women aged 20 to 39 years diagnosed with BPD, comparing those with a history of CSA (n = 78) and those without (n = 115). Participants completed standardized psychometric and neuropsychological assessments focused on impulsivity, core BPD symptoms, and cognitive functioning. Women with CSA showed greater clinical severity, including higher rates of self-harm, suicide attempts, dissociative and psychotic symptoms, along with elevated impulsivity and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related traits. Neuropsychological testing revealed significant deficits in attention, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility, along with lower performance on Stroop tasks assessing divided attention and interference control. While working memory and verbal fluency differences remained within normative ranges, age-stratified analysis revealed marked long-term memory impairments in the CSA group aged 30-39. These results suggest that neurocognitive deficits in BPD are not universal but may reflect the cumulative impact of early trauma and age. Trauma-informed assessment and tailored cognitive interventions may support more accurate profiling and inform tailored therapeutic strategies in this high-risk subgroup.
Objective: To characterize the topographic distribution, density, and interhemispheric synchrony of sleep spindles in children with Down syndrome using retrospective analysis of polysomnographic data. Methods: Polysomnographic recordings from 13 children with Down syndrome were analyzed. Spindle detection was performed using bandpass filtering, Hilbert transform, and amplitude thresholding during N2 sleep. Spindle density, symmetry between hemispheres, and topographic patterns were assessed. Results: Children with Down syndrome exhibited increased slow-wave sleep (N3) and reduced REM sleep compared to normative values. Sleep spindles showed a predominance in posterior and left-hemisphere regions. Fast spindles (14-16 Hz) were more densely distributed than slow spindles (10-13 Hz), and statistical differences in spindle density were found across channels. Interhemispheric synchrony was moderate but not statistically significant. Conclusions: Alterations in sleep spindle architecture and distribution were observed in children with Down syndrome. These findings suggest a potential link between spindle patterns and neurodevelopmental processes in this population, warranting further investigation.
