(GI-25/4)_ Cognitive and Emotional Research in Neuropsychology and Neuroscience (CERN)
Group Coordinator:
Members of the Research Group:
Keywords:
- Neuropsychology
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Cognition
- Emotion
- Health
Short description of the Group and objectives:
This research group, composed of specialists in neuropsychology, basic psychology and neuroscience, focuses on research related to the study of neuropsychological functioning of basic and complex cognitive processes. Additionally, it is considered an area of interest to know and deepen the understanding of variables and emotional symptomatology involved in the relationship between brain and cognition. Therefore, the interest of the group is to apply such knowledge in the study of the neurocognitive substrates of externalizing and internalizing psychopathological symptoms, whose interest stands out for being at the basis of psychological and psychiatric disorders or conditions such as suicide.
Considering the above, it should be noted that the main purpose of the group in the long term is to position itself as a reference group in the study of basic and complex cognitive processes with scientific rigor, both to apply such knowledge in the research context and to allow such knowledge to be derived towards clinical practice. With this interest comes together the objective of presenting high impact articles and papers, to opt for competitive projects, to extend the results of the research in scientific meetings and symposiums and to promote the collective elaborations in university extension services.
In this way, the group proposes:
General Objectives:
- Develop and contribute to the knowledge of the functioning and biological bases of cognitive and emotional processes from the fields of Neuropsychology and Neuroscience.
- To promote the generation of proposals and quality research projects on the cognitive and emotional functioning of people.
- To promote contact and academic-research relationships with other national and international research groups in the areas of Neuroscience and Neuropsychology.
Specific Objectives:
- To promote the study of the main psychological variables (cognitive and affective) involved in health and disease processes and relevant to the study of the brain-behavior relationship.
- To analyze the influence of cognitive processes in the development and maintenance of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases.
- To study the associations between neuropsychological alterations and underlying brain abnormalities and to build or support approaches to the theory and evidence base of neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation.
- To contribute to the training of UDIMA students in the inclusion of the tasks of the CERN group.
- To provide advice to UDIMA and external research groups that require guidance on the study of cognitive processes.
Investigation lines:
- Neuropsychology of basic cognitive processes (attention, perception, processing speed) and complex (executive functions, language, memory, social cognition).
- Neuropsychological evaluation and rehabilitation in population with neurological, psychiatric and psychological syndromes and conditions throughout the life cycle.
- Study of cognitive and emotional alterations in population with neurological, psychiatric and psychological conditions and difficulties throughout the life cycle.
- Application of neuroimaging and neurophysiology techniques to the study of cognitive and emotional processes.
Posts:
- Calvo AC, Cibreiro GA, Merino PT, Roy JF, Galiana A, Rufian AJ, (2019) et al. "Collagen XIX Alpha 1 Improves Prognosis in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis". Aging and Disease. 10(2):278-92.
- De Las Heras N, Galiana A, Ballesteros S, Olivares-Álvaro E, Fuller PJ, Lahera V, (2021) et al. "Proanthocyanidins Maintain Cardiac Ionic Homeostasis in Aldosterone-Induced Hypertension and Heart Failure". International journal of molecular sciences, 22(17).
- Despature, I., & Galiana, A. (2023). Clinical and Cognitive Features of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with Intellectual Giftedness: A Systematic Review. Developmental neuropsychology, 48(7), 347–360.
- Espinosa-Salido, P. Perez Nieto, M. A. Baca-García, E. y Provencio, M. (2021). Systematic review of the indirect relationships of thwarted belonginess and perceived burdensomeness in suicide. Clínica y Salud, 32(1),29-36.
- Espinosa-Salido, P., Pérez-Nieto, M.A., Baca-Garcia, E., y Provencio, M. (2025). Exploring the relationship between thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness with experiential avoidance in suicide in a sample of psychiatric outpatients. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. En prensa.
- Fernández-Rodriguez, V., Sánchez-Carro, U., Lagunas, L.N., Rico-Uribe, L., Pemau, A., Diaz-Carracedo, P., Díaz-Marsá, M., Hervás, G., de la Torre-Luque, A. Risk factors for suicidal behaviour in late-life depression: A systematic review. World Journal of Psychiatry. 12 (1), 187 - 203.
- Galiana A, Vecina-Navarro P, Sanchez-Ruiz P, Vela-Romero M., (2020) "Quantitative electroencephalography as a tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with attentiondeficit/ hyperactivity disorder". Revista de Neurología. 70(6),197-205.
- Galiana A, Vela-Romero M, Romero-Vela VM, Oliver-Tercero N, García-Olmo V, Benito-Castellanos PJ, (2020) et al. "Sensory processing disorder: Key points of a frequent alteration in neurodevelopmental disorders". Cogent Medicine. 7(1),1-12.
- Galiana, A, Campos-Varillas, A.I., Blasco-González, M, & Vela-Romero, M. (2024). Neuropsychology and quantitative electroencephalography in a case of frontotemporal dementia and small vessel disease. Clinical and Health, 35(3), 95-99. Epub February 26, 2025.
- Galiana, A., Flores-Ripoll, J. M., Benito-Castellanos, P. J., Villar-Rodriguez, C., & Vela-Romero, M. (2022). Prevalence and severity-based classification of sensory processing issues. An exploratory study with neuropsychological implications. Applied Neuropsychology Child, 1-13.
- Garrosa-Jimenez, J., Sánchez-Carro, Y., Ovejero-Benito, M.C., del Sastre, E., García, A.G., López, M.G., López-García, P., Cano-Abad, M.F (2021). Intracellular calcium and inflammatory markers, mediated by purinergic stimulation, are differentially regulated in monocytes of patients with major depressive disorder. Neuroscience Letters, 65, 136275.
- Gouin, J.P., de la Torre-Luque, A., Sánchez-Carro, Y., Geoffroy, M.C., Essau, C. (2023). Heterogeneity in the trajectories of psychological distress among late adolescents during the COVID‐19 pandemic. JCPP Advances.e12195.
- Heras, N. L., Galiana, A., Ballesteros, S., Quintela, J. C., Bonilauri, I., Lahera, V., & Martín-Fernández, B. (2023). Polyphenols and Triterpenes Combination in an In Vitro Model of Cardiac Damage: Protective Effects. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(9).
- Kljajevic, V., Hatteland Somme, J., Prieto Tedejo, R., y Laseca, G. (2020), Comprehension of
- psychological predicates in Alzheimer´s disease. Suvremena lingvistika, 46(89). https://doi.org/10.22210/suvlin.2020.089.03.
- Laseca-Zaballa, G., Lubrini, G., Periañez, J.A., Simón-Martínez, V., Martín Bejarano, M., Torres-Díaz, C., Martínez Moreno, N., Álvarez-Linera, J., Martínez Álvarez, R., y Ríos-Lago, M. (2023). Cognitive outcomes following functional neurosurgery in refractory OCD patients: a systematic review. Neurosurgical Review, 46, 145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-023-02037-w
- López-Salmerón, M.D., Provencio, M., Kovacheva, K., y Rodríguez-Muñoz, M.F. (2025). Estudio de propiedades psicométricas del Cuestionario Psicosocial de Riesgo (PRQ) en mujeres embarazadas españolas. Revista Chilena de Ginecología y Obstetricia. En prensa.
- Lubrini, G., Periañez, J.A., Laseca-Zaballa, G., Bernabéu-Brotons, E., y Ríos-Lago, M. (2021). Verbal Fluency Tasks: Influence of Age, Gender, and Education and Normative Data for the Spanish Native Adult Population. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, acab056. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acab056
- Pedrola-Pons, A., Sánchez-Carro,Y. Pemau, A., García-Ramos, A., de la Torre-Luque, A. (2024). Efficiency of psychological interventions in the prevention of suicidal behavior and self-injury in
- penitentiary population: A systematic review. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. 92, 101948.
- Rodríguez-Armendariz, E., Vela-Romero, M., & Galiana, A. (2024). Sensory Processing Challenges in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Genetic Conditions: An Observational Study. NeuroSci, 5(3), 339–353.
- Sánchez-Carro, Y., de la Torre-Luque, A., Díaz-Marsá, M., Aguayo-Estremera, R., Andreo-Jover, J., Ayad- Ahmed, W., Bobes, J., Bobes-Bascarán, T., Bravo-Ortiz, M. F., Canal-Rivero, M., Cebrià, A. I., Crespo- Facorro, B., Elices, M., Fernández-Rodrigues, V., Lopez-Peña, P., Grande, I., Palao-Tarrero, Á., Pemau, A.,Roberto, N., Ruiz-Veguilla, M., ... SURVIVE Consortium (2024). Psychiatric profiles in suicidal attempters: Relationships with suicide behaviour features. Spanish journal of psychiatry and mental health, S2950-2853(24)00011-5.
- Sánchez-Carro, Y., de la Torre-Luque, A., Leal-Leturia, I., Salvat-Pujol, N., Massaneda, C., de Arriba- Arnau, A., Urretavizcaya, M., Pérez-Solà, V., Toll, A., Martínez-Ruiz, A., Ferreirós-Martínez, R., Pérez, S.,Sastre, J., Álvarez, P., Soria, V., & López-García, P. (2023). Importance of immunometabolic markers for the classification of patients with major depressive disorder using machine learning. Progress in neuropsychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 121, 110674.
- Sánchez-Carro, Y., de la Torre-Luque, A., Portella, M. J., Leal-Leturia, I., Salvat-Pujol, N., Massaneda, C., de Arriba-Arnau, A., Urretavizcaya, M., Peretó, M., Toll, A., Martínez-Ruiz, A., Ferreiros-Martinez, R., Álvarez, P., Soria, V., & López-García, P. (2022). Relationship between immunometabolic status and cognitive performance among major depression disorder patients. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 137, 105631.
- Sanchez-Carro, Y., de la Torre-Luque, A., Vassou, C., Lopez-Garcia, P., eorgousopoulou, E., Pitsavos,C., Ayuso-Mateos, J. L., & Panagiotakos, D. (2023). Effects of elevated emotional symptoms on metabolicdisease development: a 10-year follow-up study. Frontiers in psychiatry, 14, 1148643.
- Sánchez-Carro, Y., Portella, M. J., Leal-Leturia, I., Salvat-Pujol, N., Etxandi, M., de Arriba-Arnau, A., Urretavizcaya, M., Pousa, E., Toll, A., Álvarez, P., Soria, V., & López-García, P. (2021). Age at illness onset and physical activity are associated with cognitive impairment in patients with current diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Journal of affective disorders, 279, 343–352.
- Simón-Martínez, V., Laseca-Zaballa, G., Lubrini, G., Periañez, J.A., Martínez Álvarez, R., Torres-Díaz, C.V., Martínez Moreno, N., Álvarez-Linera, J., y Ríos-Lago, M. (2021). Cognitive deficits and clinical symptoms in patients with treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: The role of slowness in information processing. Psychiatry Research, 304(8):114143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114143.
Research projects:
Collaborations on the following projects:
- Disfunción en Integración Sensorial: contribución del perfil psicofisiológico cerebral a su
comprensión y uso del mapeo cerebral para el seguimiento en la intervención (PSIA20240606-4) - Identificación de factores psicobiológicos que median la relación entre soledad social y emocional,
el aislamiento social y el deterioro cognitivo en el envejecimiento. (Proyectos de Generación de
Conocimiento, AEI-2021, 5576125945-125945-4-21. UNED). - Prevención e intervención en suicidio (SURVIVE): estudio de cohorte y ensayos clínicos controlados anidados de programas de prevención secundaria para intentos de suicidio. FUNDACION GENERAL DE LA UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID. Investigador principal (IP, Co-IP,...): Alejandro de la Torre Luque. 01/01/2019 - 01/12/2023.
- Training European Network: Metabolic Dysfunctions associated with Pharmacological Treatment
of Schizophrenia. Servicio Madrileño de Salud. Investigador principal (IP, Co-IP,...): Pilar López
García. Entidad/es financiadora/s: Comisión Europea. Fecha de inicio-fin: 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2021. - Estudio de marcadores periféricos de estrés oxidativo e inflamación en el Trastorno Depresivo
Mayor. Entidad de realización: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Investigador principal (IP, Co-
IP,...): Pilar López García. Entidad/es financiadora/s: Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Fecha de inicio-fin: 01/01/2016 – 31/12/2020. - Factores cognitivos, afectivos y ambientales relacionados con la salud mental perinatal: un estudio
longitudinal con mujeres embarazadas y en postparto. FUNDACIÓN DEL INSTITUTO DE
INVESTIGACIÓN SANITARIA: Fundación Jiménez Díaz. Código: FCAASMP. Año 2024 –
Actualidad. - Variables psicológicas maternas asociadas a la depresión postparto. Denominación del proyecto:
Ayudas a la Investigación competitiva, enmarcadas en la X Convocatoria de Ayudas a la
Investigación UCJC. Concedido por el Vicerrectorado de Investigación de la Universidad Camilo
José Cela. Desarrollado en el Departamento de Psicología de la Facultad de Salud (Universidad
Camilo José Cela). Año 2023-Año 2025. - Maternal Perinatal Stress and Adverse Outcomes in the Offspring: Maximising infants´development (CA22114). Subgrupo: Improving assessment approaches in perinatal maternal stress through psychological and biological measures. The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST): organisation for the creation of research networks, COST Actions. Año 2023 – Año 2027.
- Variables psicológicas maternas asociadas a la prematuridad. Denominación del proyecto: VPMP.
Ayudas a la Investigación competitiva, enmarcadas en la VIII Convocatoria de Ayudas a la
Investigación UCJC. Concedido por el Vicerrectorado de Investigación de la Universidad Camilo
José Cela. Desarrollado en el Departamento de Psicología de la Facultad de Salud (Universidad
Camilo José Cela). Año 2021 – Año 2023.