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Neural Dynamics of Adaptive and Maladaptive Reward-Seeking Behavior
No full textLa presa de decisions maladaptativa és una característica fonamental de molts trastorns neuropsiquiàtrics, sovint conduint a patrons disfuncionals de recerca de recompensa. Aquestes alteracions solen reflectir un processament de la recompensa alterat i un control executiu compromès, que poden derivar en decisions impulsives o en rigidesa conductual. En aquesta tesi, hem investigat les marques electrofisiològiques que sustenten les respostes adaptatives i maladaptatives davant la manca de recompensa. Mitjançant un model operant validat d’addicció alimentària, vam examinar la contribució de la participació de l’hipocamp ventral i del còrtex prefrontal medial (vHPC–mPFC) a les respostes impulsives davant aliments saborosos. Complementàriament, utilitzant un paradigma amb probabilitats de recompensa imprevisibles, hem examinat com les representacions espacials de l’hipocamp sostenen la presa de decisions flexible. Els nostres resultats revelen que una sincronització aberrant entre vHPC i mPFC sustenta un comportament impulsiu i maladaptatiu, mentre que l’activitat no-local de l’hipocamp guia la planificació d’accions en decisions adaptatives i flexibles. En conjunt, aquests resultats posen de manifest dinàmiques neuronals que medien l’equilibri entre la impulsivitat maladaptativa i la conducte flexible.Maladaptive decision-making is a core feature of many neuropsychiatric disorders, commonly leading to dysfunctional patterns of reward pursuit. These impairments usually reflect altered reward processing and compromised executive control, which may lead to impulsive choices or behavioral inflexibility. In this thesis, we investigated the electrophysiological signatures underlying adaptive versus maladaptive responses to reward unavailability. Using a validated operant model of food addiction, we examined the contribution of the ventral hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (vHPC–mPFC) participation to impulsive responding for palatable food. Complementarily, using a foraging paradigm with unpredictable reward contingencies, we examined how hippocampal spatial representations support flexible decision-making. Our findings reveal that aberrant vHPC–mPFC synchrony underlies impulsive, maladaptive behavior, while non-local hippocampal activity guides action planning in adaptive, flexible choices. Together, these findings highlight distinct neural dynamics that mediate the balance between maladaptive impulsivity and behavioral flexibility.Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Doctorat en Biomedicin
Culpabilidad sin posibilidad de obrar en contrario: fundamentos teóricos de la imputación personal
No full textEl estudio que se presenta a continuación explora las bases teóricas de la imputación personal del injusto, centrándose en la relación entre el concepto de libertad individual y la responsabilidad penal. Se somete a consideración una nueva perspectiva sobre el fundamento material de la culpabilidad, sugiriendo que esta puede fundamentarse sin necesidad de referirse a la posibilidad de que el sujeto haya podido actuar (o motivarse a hacerlo) de otra manera. En la primera parte del trabajo, se revisan las teorías históricas y filosóficas que han incidido -directa e indirectamente- en la forma que se le ha dado a la noción de culpabilidad en los últimos siglos, al tiempo que se analizan las implicaciones prácticas de adoptar una visión diferente sobre la imputación y el reproche penal. Hecho esto, se propone una reinterpretación del fundamento de la culpabilidad, así como sus implicaciones para el sentido de la disculpa y la ubicación sistemática de la (in)imputabilidad. Al final, se aplican las consideraciones desarrolladas en abstracto al análisis de algunos casos concretos que suscitan debate en la doctrina contemporánea respecto de uno o varios componentes de la teoría material del delito. Esta tesis propone que la relación de imputación personal que caracteriza a la culpabilidad penal sea evaluada desde la (in)compatibilidad de la determinación del injusto con la vida en sociedad y que el análisis de la consecuencia jurídica a adoptar frente a la comisión del delito sea realizado con referencia a la capacidad de la pena para cumplir el fin pretendido en el caso concreto, en vez de la capacidad del autor de obrar en contrario.The study presented here explores the theoretical foundations of personal attribution of the criminal wrongdoing («unjust»), focusing on the relationship between the concept of individual freedom and criminal responsibility. It offers a new perspective on the material basis of culpability, suggesting that it can be recognized without the need to refer to the possibility that the individual could have acted (or been motivated to act) differently. In the first part of the work, historical and philosophical theories that have directly and indirectly influenced the concept of culpability over the past centuries are reviewed, while also analyzing the practical implications of adopting a different view on attribution and criminal reproach. Following this, a reinterpretation of the basis of culpability is proposed, along with its implications for the meaning of excuses and the proper location of the discussion about (in)imputability. Finally, the abstract considerations are applied to the analysis of specific cases that promote debate in contemporary doctrine regarding one or more components of the material theory of crime. This thesis proposes that the personal attribution that characterizes criminal culpability should be considered taking into account the (in)compatibility of the determination of the unlawful conduct with life in society, and that the selection of the legal consequence to impose in response to the commission of a crime should take into account the penalty's capacity to fulfill its intended purpose in the specific case, rather than the offender's capacity to have acted otherwise.Programa de Doctorat en Dre
A novel computational framework for identifying epileptogenic networks based on functional connectivity changes
No full textEsta tesis se centra en mejorar la precisión de los objetivos quirúrgicos en pacientes con epilepsia resistente a los fármacos. Las redes cerebrales epileptogénicas exhiben cambios significativos en la conectividad durante los períodos previos a las crisis. Los modelos previos de generación de crisis respaldan una dinámica de conectividad donde la red epileptogénica intenta propagar la actividad convulsiva, mientras que otras redes intentan suprimirla. Desarrollamos una herramienta para medir los cambios de conectividad entre dos estados de red y probamos el cambio de conectividad como un posible biomarcador. Las redes que más cambiaron fueron consistentes con las resecciones quirúrgicas de los pacientes con buen pronóstico en una cohorte retrospectiva de pacientes. Además, analizamos la generación de crisis como una interacción competitiva entre redes, basándonos en conceptos de la teoría de juegos. Este marco separó por completo las cirugías exitosas de las fallidas. Por último, fuimos más allá de la conectividad por pares e introdujimos una herramienta para identificar redes funcionales basadas en patrones de actividad. En general, esta tesis proporciona herramientas prácticas para avanzar tanto en la práctica clínica como en la neurociencia básica.This Thesis focuses on improving the precision of surgical targets in drug-resistant epilepsy patients. Epileptogenic brain networks exhibit significant connectivity changes during pre-seizure periods. Previous models of seizure generation support a push-pull connectivity dynamics, with the epileptogenic network attempting to propagate seizure activity while other networks try to suppress it. We developed a tool for measuring connectivity changes between two network states and tested connectivity change as a potential biomarker. The networks that changed the most were consistent with successful surgical targets in a retrospective patient cohort, achieving accurate surgery outcome prediction. We further analyzed seizure generation as a competitive interaction between networks, drawing on game theory concepts. This framework completely separated successful and failed surgeries. Lastly, we moved beyond pairwise connectivity and introduced a tool for identifying functional networks based on distributed activity patterns. Overall, this Thesis provides practical tools for advancing the clinical practice and basic neuroscience.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin
Toward a physical map of Drosophila buzzatii: use of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA polymorphisms and sequence-tagged site landmarks
No full textWe present a physical map based on RAPD polymorphic fragments and sequence-tagged sites (STSs) for the repleta group species Drosophila buzzatii. One hundred forty-four RAPD markers have been used as probes for in situ hybridization to the polytene chromosomes, and positive results allowing the precise localization of 108 RAPDs were obtained. Of these, 73 behave as effectively unique markers for physical map construction, and in 9 additional cases the probes gave two hybridization signals, each on a different chromosome. Most markers (68%) are located on chromosomes 2 and 4, which partially agree with previous estimates on the distribution of genetic variation over chromosomes. One RAPD maps close to the proximal breakpoint of inversion 2z(3) but is not included within the inverted fragment. However, it was possible to conclude from this RAPD that the distal breakpoint of 2z(3) had previously been wrongly assigned. A total of 39 cytologically mapped RAPDs were converted to STSs and yielded an aggregate sequence of 28,431 bp. Thirty-six RAPDs (25%) did not produce any detectable hybridization signal, and we obtained the DNA sequence from three of them. Further prospects toward obtaining a more developed genetic map than the one currently available for D. buzzatii are discussed
Essays in Behavioral Science
No full textIn this thesis, I explore three topics in behavioral science. In the first chapter, we propose and test a new approach to making defaults more effective: asking people to justify their decision if they want to deviate from the default. Across six pre-registered studies, including one field experiment, we find a consistent justification aversion effect. In the second chapter, we investigate the extent to which the knowledge generated by the field of behavioral economics was already known by laypeople. We find that almost all foundational phenomena can be predicted by the majority of our participants. In the third chapter, we investigate how well commonly used measures of trust capture trust across different contexts in two countries. We show that not all trust measures are equally good predictors of context-specific trust.En esta tesis, exploro tres temas en la ciencia del comportamiento. En el primer capítulo, proponemos y probamos un nuevo enfoque para hacer que las opciones predeterminadas sean más efectivas: pedir a las personas que justifiquen su decisión si desean desviarse de la opción predeterminada. A lo largo de seis estudios pre-registrados, incluyendo un experimento de campo, encontramos un efecto consistente de aversión a la justificación. En el segundo capítulo, investigamos hasta qué punto los conocimientos generados por el campo de la economía del comportamiento ya eran conocidos por la gente común. Encontramos que casi todos los fenómenos fundamentales pueden ser predichos por la mayoría de nuestros participantes. En el tercer capítulo, investigamos qué tan bien capturan las medidas de confianza comúnmente utilizadas la confianza en diferentes contextos en dos países. Mostramos que no todas las medidas de confianza son igualmente buenas para predecir la confianza en contextos específicos.Programa de Doctorat en Economia, Finances i Empres
Characterisation of walking in older adults: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a case study
No full textBackground: Walking is crucial for an active and healthy ageing. Aim: To understand walking in ageing populations, and, as a case study, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: This thesis (in seven manuscripts) combines diverse methodologies. To assess walking in ageing populations and in people with non-communicable diseases, we conducted a meta-ethnography, an experts’ review, and used COVID-19 as a natural experiment. To assess walking in COPD, we conducted a systematic review with subsequent meta-analyses, and we used three COPD cohort studies. Results: (i) walking is a multi-component concept that implies physical, emotional and social aspects, and that is affected by the environment, the activities that individuals aim to perform, and their coping strategies; (ii) in the presence of COPD, walking volume and pattern is impaired, paralleling disease severity, and is predictive of disease prognosis. Conclusions: Walking is a multi-component concept in ageing populations. Walking impairment in COPD goes beyond traditional measures of physical activity.Antecedentes: Caminar es crucial para un envejecimiento activo y saludable. Objetivo: Comprender el caminar en poblaciones que envejecen, y como caso de estudio, en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) Métodos: Esta tesis (en siete manuscritos) combina diversas metodologías. Para evaluar el caminar de poblaciones que envejecen y personas con enfermedades no transmisibles, desarrollamos una meta-etnografía, una revisión de expertos, y usamos la COVID-19 como un experimento natural. Para evaluar el caminar en EPOC, desarrollamos una revisión sistemática con meta-análisis, y usamos tres estudios de cohortes. Resultados: (i) Caminar es un concepto multicomponente que implica aspectos físicos, emocionales y sociales, y que se ve afectado por el entorno, las actividades que las personas pretenden realizar, y sus estrategias de adaptación; (ii) en presencia de EPOC, el volumen y los patrones de caminar están alterados, de forma paralela a la gravedad de la enfermedad., y predicen el pronóstico de la enfermedad. Conclusiones: Caminar es un concepto multicomponente en poblaciones que envejecen. El deterioro del caminar en EPOC va más allá de las medidas tradicionales de actividad física.Antecedents: Caminar és fonamental per a un envelliment actiu i saludable. Objectiu: entendre el caminar en poblacions que envelleixen i, com a estudi de cas, en la malaltia pulmonar obstructiva crònica (MPOC). Mètodes: Aquesta tesi (en set manuscrits) combina metodologies diverses. Per a avaluar el caminar en poblacions que envelleixen i en persones amb malalties no transmissibles, vam realitzar una meta-etnografia, una revisió d’experts, i vam utilitzar la COVID-19 com a experiment natural. Per a avaluar el caminar en MPOC, vam realitzar una revisió sistemàtica amb meta-anàlisis posteriors i vam utilitzar tres estudis de cohorts de MPOC. Resultats: (i) Caminar és un concepte multi-component que implica aspectes físics, emocionals i socials, i que es veu afectat per l’entorn, les activitats que els individus volen realitzar i les seves estratègies d’adaptació; (ii) en presència de la MPOC, el volum i el patró de caminar es veuen deteriorats paral·lelament a la gravetat de la malaltia i són predictius del pronòstic de la malaltia. Conclusions: Caminar és un concepte multi-component en poblacions que envelleixen . El deteriorament del caminar en la MPOC va més enllà de les mesures tradicionals d’activitat física.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin
Novel transcription mechanisms used by dendritic cells in the tumor immune microenvironment
No full textInterferon is essential for eliciting adaptive immunity against cancer cells. Type I interferon (IFNI) activates proinflammatory responses in dendritic cells (DCs) and this promotes specific anti-tumor T cell responses. During tumor progression, cytosolic DNA accumulates in cancer cells, activating the STING pathway that induces IFNI production. Our research describes novel transcriptional mechanisms in control of tumor-infiltrating DCs, which are key activators of adaptive immune responses that modulate tumor progression. We focus on their anti-tumor functions within the tumor immune microenvironment and analyze how IFNI and other inflammatory signatures of DCs can influence tumor progression and also the response to anti-tumor vaccination. Strategies aiming on enhancing DC functions provide attractive opportunities to boost anti-cancer immunity.Durante la progresión tumoral, el ADN citosólico se acumula en las células cancerosas, activando la vía de señalización de STING e induciendo la producción de interferón de tipo I. El interferón es esencial para desencadenar la inmunidad adaptativa contra las células cancerosas, al inducir la respuesta antitumoral de las células dendríticas y los linfocitos T. Nuestra investigación describe nuevos mecanismos transcripcionales que regulan las células dendríticas que infiltran tumores y son clave en las respuestas inmunitarias adaptativas. Este trabajo se centra en sus funciones antitumorales dentro del microambiente inmunitario tumoral y analiza cómo las respuestas de interferón e inflamación en las células dendríticas modulan la progresión del tumor y la respuesta a la vacunación. Las estrategias dirigidas a mejorar las funciones de las células dendríticas ofrecen oportunidades atractivas para potenciar las respuestas inmunitarias contra el cáncer.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin
Funny foreigners: sometimes not so funny and not so foreign
No full textThe basic aim of this chapter is to survey the main contributions to the topic of audiovisual
humour translation (AVHT) for the case of scripted multilingualism (authors like
Delabastita 2002, Dore 2019, Bleichenbacher 2009), as well as to create awareness of its
rich range of variables. This is done by selecting relevant ideas from scholars and
representative selected samples from the audiovisual sources themselves, with analysis
and commentary. Two factors stand out in the analysis of funniness and foreign
languages: comprehensibility and strangeness or otherness. From this perspective
gibberish is analysed in relation to non-native language use. Superiority theory and
stereotypes are also focused on, as well as L3 as a form of wordplay and character
portrayal. Two lists of variables are presented, one for humour translation (based on
Zabalbeascoa 2005 and 2012) and one for language variation in AVT (based on Corrius
and Zabalbeascoa 2011). Eight examples are analysed in depth. Mismatching is proposed
as a label for a character’s traits that are inconsistent with expectations about that
character. The conclusions include the observation that research into AVT of multilingual
humour can make an important contribution to many other issues in translation studies,
and not only translation studies but also humour studies, multilingual communication,
multimodality, and film studies and discourse analysis. Finally, there is a point on how
multilingualism, or more specifically L3, can include all sorts of language variation, not
only foreign languages
Langue et identité algérienne: étude et analyse du texte audiovisuelle et le sous-titrage
No full textL'étude consiste à analyser la langue algérienne, dite dialecte algérien, afin d'observer son fonctionnement au sein de la société algérienne. Le dialecte algérien est une langue nationale, utilisée par les interlocuteurs dans la vie quotidienne, une variété peu étudiée même si son usage est primordial et courant (Chachou, 2008; Kerras et Baya, 2017, 2016; Ibrahimi, 2004, etc.).
L'objectif de notre étude est de démontrer une fois de plus que le dialecte algérien est une langue à part entière (Kerras et Baya, 2018), car chaque pays a le droit et le devoir non seulement d'utiliser sa langue maternelle dans les domaines domestiques, mais aussi au sein de l'éducation afin d'éviter la discrimination et l'exclusion sociale (Amorós Negre, 2014). Pour ces raisons une étude complémentaire est réalisée afin d'observer l'usage de la langue algérienne dans les contextes audiovisuels, plus précisément, en tenant compte des sous-titres
Promotions and productivity: the role of meritocracy and pay progression in the public sector
No full textWe study promotion incentives in the public sector. In collaboration with Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health, we introduce exogenous variation in the meritocratic nature of promotions from health worker to supervisor positions and in health workers' perceptions of pay progression upon promotion. Ten months later, our findings reveal that meritocracy leads to a 22 percent increase in health workers' productivity. Greater perceived pay progression in a meritocratic system boosts productivity by 23 percent, whereas in a less meritocratic system, it decreases productivity by 27 percent. We show that this reduction is consistent with a negative morale effect.Financial support for this project was provided by UK aid from the UK government (through the Economic Development and Institutions initiative, grant PO_26429), the Rockefeller Foundation (through the International Growth Center, grant PIR_20180220), J-PAL's Governance Initiative (GR0961), and the Weiss Family Fund (NWU-004). León-Ciliotta thanks the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (through the Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (CEX2019-000915-S) and grants (RYC2017-23172 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and FSE invierte en tu futuro) and the Fundación Ramón Areces. IRB has been approved by the Sierra Leone Ethics and Scientific Review Committee and Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CIREP Approval 107)