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International audience; Most studies today agree about the link between visual-attention and oculomotor control during reading: attention seems to affect saccadic programming, that is, the position where the eyes land in a word. Moreover, recent studies show that visuo-attentional processes are strictly linked to normal and impaired reading. In particular, a large body of research has found evidence of defective visuo-attentional processes in dyslexics. What do eye movements tell us about visuo-attentional deficits in developmental dyslexia? The purpose of this paper is to explore the link between oculomotor control and dyslexia, taking into account its heterogeneous manifestation and comorbidity. Clinical perspectives in the use of the eye-movements approach to better explore and understand reading impairments are discussed.

Les auteurs interrogent l'enfance et ses représentations à travers leurs évolutions, l'influence exercée par l'amélioration des connaissances du développement de l'enfant, leur appropriation par les professionnels et les familles. Quatorze études présentent la place de l'enfant à certains moments de la vie familiale : naissances, anniversaires, confrontation au vieillissement, relations intergénérationnelles. A partir d'ouvrages jeunesse ou d'écrits s'adressant à la famille ou aux professionnels de l'enfance, elles étudient les rapports de socialisation, les contextes et les instances de l'éducation, telle l'école, ainsi que l'invention de catégories (enfants délaissés, handicapés...) ou les nouvelles parentalités.

International audience; The exact anatomical localization of right hemisphere lesions that lead to left spatial neglect is still debated. The effect of confounding factors such as acute diaschisis and hypoperfusion, visual field defects, and lesion size may account for conflicting results that have been reported in the literature. Here, we present a comprehensive anatomical investigation of the gray- and white matter lesion correlates of left spatial neglect, which was run in a sample 58 patients with subacute or chronic vascular strokes in the territory of the right middle cerebral artery. Standard voxel-based correlates confirmed the role played by lesions in the posterior parietal cortex (supramarginal gyrus, angular gyrus, and temporal-parietal junction), in the frontal cortex (frontal eye field, middle and inferior frontal gyrus), and in the underlying parietal-frontal white matter. Using a new diffusion tensor imaging-based atlas of the human brain, we were able to run, for the first time, a detailed analysis of the lesion involvement of subcortical white matter pathways. The results of this analysis revealed that, among the different pathways linking parietal with frontal areas, damage to the second branch of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF II) was the best predictor of left spatial neglect. The group study also revealed a subsample of patients with neglect due to focal lesion in the lateral-dorsal portion of the thalamus, which connects the premotor cortex with the inferior parietal lobule. The relevance of fronto-parietal disconnection was further supported by complete in vivo tractography dissection of white matter pathways in 2 patients, one with and the other without signs of neglect. These 2 patients were studied both in the acute phase and 1 year after stroke and were perfectly matched for age, handedness, stroke onset, lesion size, and for cortical lesion involvement. Taken together, the results of the present study support the hypothesis that anatomical disconnections leading to a functional breakdown of parietal-frontal networks are an important pathophysiological factor leading to chronic left spatial neglect. Here, we propose that different loci of SLF disconnection on the rostro-caudal axis can also be associated with disconnection of short-range white matter pathways within the frontal or parietal areas. Such different local disconnection patterns can play a role in the important clinical variability of the neglect syndrome.

none 5 si This study explored the relationship between season of birth and handedness, taking into account gender and nationality variables. Young adults from three countries (2120 females and 1353 males; 877 Spanish, 2184 Italian, and 412 French), aged from 18 to 30 years, filled the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI). According to the literature, the percentage of left-handed participants in the whole sample was 9.30%. The distribution of left- and right-handed participants was not significantly different among the seasons of birth. The present data do not support a significant season of birth effect on handedness in young adults. none L. Tonetti; A. Adan; H. Caci; M. Fabbri; V. Natale L. Tonetti; A. Adan; H. Caci; M. Fabbri; V. Natale

Atelier 15 : transmission au sein de la famille; Cette communication examine, depuis les pratiques d'écritures parentales, les modes de construction et de transmission de la mémoire familiale et de l'expérience parentale au sein de la famille et entre familles. Une analyse secondaire a été menée sur les données qualitatives (Francis, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 ; Francis et Cadei, 2009, 2012) issues d'ego-documents : albums de naissance, journaux de voyage, blogs et d'entretiens auprès d'adultes et d'enfants. Les résultats soulignent les formes et projets de la transmission, au sein de la famille, et entre familles sur la Toile. On se centrera spécialement sur ces formes électroniques qui visent souvent à partager l'expérience parentale dans les contextes de mobilité ou à se soutenir dans les situations de parentalité éprouvée.

International audience; Neuropsychological investigations of FMR1 premutation carriers without FXTAS present one domain resulting in contradictory findings, namely that of mathematical skills. One reason for this might be that standard clinical batteries used so far may be inadequate to uncover precise deficits within specific mathematical skills. In fact, these batteries do not clearly distinguish between specific mathematical abilities and are therefore likely to provide only a generic indication of a deficit. Mathematical skills in a group of females with FMR1 premutation were investigated through the use of an extensive, theoretically grounded battery of mathematical tasks, encompassing counting, number comprehension, numerical transcoding, calculation skills and arithmetic principles. Moreover, the mental representation of numbers was assessed by studying the Spatial Numerical Association of Response Codes (SNARC) effect and mental number line (MNL) bisection. The FMR1 premutation group (N=18) comprised 29–50 years old women of normal intelligence, who were individually matched on age, sex and education to a group of healthy participants (N=18). Specific yet subtle weaknesses were detected on processes of basic number understanding such as dealing with analogue scales and certain aspects of number transcoding, in the presence of otherwise spared calculation abilities.

The aim of this study is to establish whether the thumb is represented independently of the palm. An exogenous spatial cueing paradigm was used, where participants had to detect a tactile stimulus that could appear on the proximal and distal phalanges or metacarpus of the thumb (thenar area; Experiment 1) and the metacarpus of the thumb or hypothenar area of the palm (Experiment 2) of the left hand. Our results suggest the thumb and its metacarpus share the same mental representation, which is distinct from the representation of the palm.

none 4 Learning about the function and use of tools through observation requires the ability to exploit one’s own knowledge derived from past experience. It also depends on the detection of low-level local cues that are rooted in the tool’s perceptual properties. Best known as ‘affordances’, these cues generate biomechanical priors that constrain the number of possible motor acts that are likely to be performed on tools. The contribution of these biomechanical priors to the learning of tool-use behaviors is well supported. However, it is not yet clear if, and how, affordances interact with higher-order expectations that are generated from past experience – i.e. probabilistic exposure – to enable observational learning of tool use. To address this question we designed an action observation task in which participants were required to infer, under various conditions of visual uncertainty, the intentions of a demonstrator performing tool-use behaviors. Both the probability of observing the demonstrator achieving a particular tool function and the biomechanical optimality of the observed movement were varied. We demonstrate that biomechanical priors modulate the extent to which participants’ predictions are influenced by probabilistically-induced prior expectations. Biomechanical and probabilistic priors have a cumulative effect when they ‘converge’ (in the case of a probabilistic bias assigned to optimal behaviors), or a mutually inhibitory effect when they actively ‘diverge’ (in the case of probabilistic bias assigned to suboptimal behaviors). Jacquet P.O.; Chambon V.; Borghi A.M.; Tessari A. Jacquet P.O.; Chambon V.; Borghi A.M.; Tessari A.

none 6 si An important challenge of embodied theories is to explain the comprehension of abstract sentences. The aim of the present study was to scrutinize the role of the motor cortex in this process. We developed a new paradigm to study the abstract-concrete dimension by combining concrete (i.e. action-related) and abstract (i.e. non-action-related) verbs with nouns of graspable and non-graspable objects. Using these verb-noun combinations we performed a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on the left primary motor cortex while participants performed a sentence sensibility task. Single-TMS pulses were delivered 250 ms after verb or noun presentation in each of four combinations of Abstract and Concrete verbs and nouns. To evaluate cortico-spinal excitability we registered the electromyographic activity of the right first dorsal interosseous muscle. As to verb-noun integration, analysis of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) after TMS pulse during noun presentation revealed greater peak-to-peak amplitude in phrases containing Abstract rather than Concrete Verbs. Response times were also collected and showed that compatible (Concrete-Concrete and Abstract-Abstract) combinations were processed faster than mixed ones; moreover in combinations containing concrete verbs, participants were faster when the pulse was delivered on the first word (verb) than on the second one (noun). Results support previous findings showing early activation of hand-related areas after concrete verbs processing. The prolonged or delayed activation of the same areas by abstract verbs will be discussed in the framework of recent embodied theories based on multiple types of representation, particularly theories emphasizing the role of different acquisition mechanisms for concrete and abstract words (Borghi & Cimatti, 2009;2012). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2012.10.004 Scorolli C.; Jacquet P.; Binkofski F.; Nicoletti R.; Tessari A.; Borghi A.M. Scorolli C.; Jacquet P.; Binkofski F.; Nicoletti R.; Tessari A.; Borghi A.M.

none 4 no The aim of the present study was to investigate, for the first time, the relationship between circadian preference and mood seasonality in adolescents. To this end, 1539 participants (881 female; 658 male) completed the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents and the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents to determine circadian preference and mood seasonality, respectively. Evening types achieved significantly higher mood seasonality scores than intermediate and morning types, as intermediates did than morning types. Agreeing with previous studies on young adults and adults, the present data indicate a significant relationship between eveningness and higher mood seasonality in adolescents. none L. Tonetti; M. Fabbri; M. Martoni; V. Natale L. Tonetti; M. Fabbri; M. Martoni; V. Natale

none 4 no A significant season of birth effect on mood seasonality has been detected in young adults, with higher sensitivity to seasonal changes for people born during spring or summer months (long photoperiod) than those born during autumn or winter months (short photoperiod). The aim of this study was to verify whether the birth season effect on mood seasonality is already present in late childhood and adolescence. To this end, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (SPAQ-CA) was administered to 1523 Italian participants (870 females, 653 males), ranging from 10 to 17 years of age. The Global Seasonality Score (GSS) was computed as a measure of mood seasonality. Analysis of covariance showed a significant season of birth effect on GSS; although no comparisons were significant when Tukey's posthoc test for unequal samples was performed, it was observed that adolescents born in summer achieved the highest scores while those born in winter obtained the lowest. The present data point out that a significant season of birth effect on mood seasonality is already present in late childhood and adolescence. none L. Tonetti; M. Fabbri; M. Martoni; V. Natale L. Tonetti; M. Fabbri; M. Martoni; V. Natale

none 6 Spagnoli P; Silva A J; Venditti A; Santos S C; Tanucci G; Caetano A Spagnoli, Paola; Silva A., J; Venditti, A; Santos S., C; Tanucci, G; Caetano, A.

none 6 si The present pilot study aimed to compare sleep estimation with a smartphone accelerometer to that of an actigraph accelerometer in healthy adults. Thirteen volunteers (four females; mean age 22.97 ± 3.44) simultaneously wore Actiwatch actigraphs and put the smartphone close to the pillow for at least four consecutive overnight recordings. On the whole, the agreement between the two devices was reasonably satisfactory for all sleep parameters considered (Total Sleep Time, Wake After Sleep Onset and Sleep Efficiency) but not for Sleep Onset Latency. To deeply understand the suitability of the smartphone in assessing sleep, future studies should necessarily use polysomnography. none Natale V.; Drejak M.; Erbacci A.; Tonetti L.; Fabbri M.; Martoni M. Natale V.; Drejak M.; Erbacci A.; Tonetti L.; Fabbri M.; Martoni M.

Responses to a relevant stimulus dimension are faster and more accurate when the stimulus and response spatially correspond compared to when they do not, even though stimulus position is irrelevant (Simon effect). It has been demonstrated that practicing with an incompatible spatial stimulus-response (S-R) mapping before performing a Simon task can eliminate this effect. In the present study we assessed whether a learned spatially incompatible S-R mapping can be transferred to a nonspatial conflict task, hence supporting the view that transfer effects are due to acquisition of a general “respond to the opposite stimulus value” rule. To this aim, we ran two experiments in which participants performed a spatial compatibility task with either a compatible or an incompatible mapping and then transferred, after a 5 min delay, to a color Stroop task. In Experiment 1, responses were executed by pressing one of two keys on the keyboard in both practice and transfer tasks. In Experiment 2, responses were manual in the practice task and vocal in the transfer task. The spatially incompatible practice significantly reduced the color Stroop effect only when responses were manual in both tasks. These results suggest that during practice participants develop a response-selection strategy of emitting the alternative spatial response.

none 4 The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between season of birth and sleep-timing preferences in adolescence. To this end, the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (MEQ-CA) was administered to 1912 adolescents (1058 females and 854 males), ranging in age between 10 and 17 yrs. To assess preferred sleep habits, the authors considered the answers to the open-ended questions of the MEQ-CA (items 1 and 2), regarding the preferred arising time and the preferred going to bed time. Combining the answers to these two questions, the authors also indirectly computed the preferred sleep duration and preferred midpoint of sleep. Season of birth did not significantly modulate the overall MEQ-CA score; however, spring-born participants preferred to go to bed and reached the preferred midpoint of sleep later than those born in autumn. Agreeing with a previous study on young adults, the present data point to a significant season-of-birth effect on the two parameters of the sleep-timing preferences in adolescents. none L. Tonetti; M. Fabbri; M. Martoni; V. Natale L. Tonetti; M. Fabbri; M. Martoni; V. Natale

International audience; We investigated the characteristics of route and survey processing of a unique complex virtual environment both at the behavioral and brain levels. Prior to fMRI scanning, participants were trained to follow a route and to learn the spatial relationships between several places, acquiring both route and survey knowledge from a ground-level perspective. During scanning, snapshots of the environment were presented, and participants were required to either indicate the direction to take to follow the route (route task), or to locate unseen targets (survey task). Data suggest that route and survey processing are mainly supported by a common occipito-fronto-parieto-temporal neural network. Our results are consistent with those gathered in studies concerning the neural bases of route versus survey knowledge acquired either from different perspectives or in different environments. However, rather than arguing for a clear distinction between route and survey processing, “mixed” strategies are likely to be involved when both types of encoding take place in the same environment.

International audience; The ability of effectively representing time ensures the efficiency and accuracy of sensory and motor processing. It is well documented that in still observers, subjective time varies in response to variations of external sensory inputs. However, it is still poorly understood how inertial inputs, which enable coding of body displacements in space, affect timekeeping processes in a dynamic agent. Here, we investigated the effects of rotatory body accelerations on the reproduction of an acoustic isochronous pacing rhythm. In a first experiment, healthy participants performed a finger tapping task in which responses were either synchronized to the rhythm (Synchronization), or performed in absence of the rhythm following its withdrawal (Continuation). Both tasks were performed in presence and absence of sinusoidal acceleratory rotations along the vertical head-body axis. We found that the representation of the target frequency varied continuously as a function of periodic variations of vestibular-proprioceptive information. However, the effects on Synchronization and Continuation were opposite in directionality: increases in velocity were associated to increases in Continuation tapping rate (indicating a subjective shortening of the target interval), and decreases in Synchronization tapping rate. This was due to different temporal delays with which body motion affected tapping rate generation in these two conditions. A second control experiment, which lacked a representational component of time, confirmed that body displacements in Experiment 1 had indeed affected an internal timekeeper, and not motor responses triggered by its operation. A third control experiment, procedurally identical to Experiment 1 with the exception of an increased displacement frequency, allowed us to establish that Continuation tapping rate varied anticipatorily with respect to body motion, while Synchronization tapping rate varied with a delay in response to body movements. The observed consistent directionality in timing error, can be considered an adaptive response of internal timing mechanisms to body movements in space, where greater rates of displacement prompt accelerated timed responses.

none 3 none Natale V.; Adan A.; Fabbri M. Natale V.; Adan A.; Fabbri M.

none 5 si PURPOSE: The connective tissue elements forming the check ligaments and portals of the human eye muscles have recently been ascribed with a pulley function. Active positioning of the pulleys over orbital layer contraction during eye movements has been suggested. Other studies have instead demonstrated fibrous tissue connections between all parts of the muscle and the pulleys. We aimed to compare the isometric force developed at the muscle tendon and at the pulleys of the horizontal eye muscles, and to investigate which eye muscle structures might exert force on the pulleys. METHODS: Isometric force development was recorded from the lateral and medial rectus muscles in six patients operated for strabismus under topical anaesthesia. Two strain gauge probes were used, each attached with 5-0 silk sutures either to the muscle tendon or to the pulley. The eye muscles were activated by horizontal saccadic eye movements in steps from 30 degrees in the off-direction to 30 degrees in the on-direction of the muscles. RESULTS: The forces developed at the tendon and pulley were almost identical with respect to amplitude and other parameters. No differences were found in forces developed at the pulleys of the medial and lateral rectus muscles. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the presence of fibrous tissue connections between all eye muscle fibres and pulley structures, rather than orbital fibre control of the pulley. open Lennerstrand, G.; Bolzani, R.; Benassi, M.; Tian, S.; Schiavi, C. Lennerstrand, G.; Bolzani, R.; Benassi, M.; Tian, S.; Schiavi, C.

none 6 Sleep deprivation (SD) is a common condition that affects many people in modern life. It can interfere with cognitive abilities, motor performance, emotions and mood. Numerous studies have shown that both total and partial SD lead to impaired alertness and cognitive functioning. While a body of work has focused on the effect subsequent to SD, cognitive performance efficiency during a night without sleep has been rarely assessed. We describe the results of 6-years recording data in our laboratory. In 12h sleep deprivation (1 night from 21:00. to 09:00) a large sample of young adults has been tested in several cognitive tasks ranging from simple to complex tasks. All findings lead to conclude that: a) during the night without sleep the cognitive system generally works in a right way, allowing subjects to perform the tasks and suggesting a specific pattern of SD adaptation depending on the specific cognitive tasks; b) there is a particular moment in the night, that is at 04:00, where cognitive performance is affected, suggesting a strict association with chronobiological rhythms instead of SD; c) the cognitive performance reaches lower efficiency levels at the end of a night without sleep. Finally, we discuss the results considering the impact of SD on the social life and in particular on the shift workers. none Natale V.; Fabbri M.; Esposito M.J.; Martoni M.; Tonetti L.; Cicogna P. Natale V.; Fabbri M.; Esposito M.J.; Martoni M.; Tonetti L.; Cicogna P.

The aim of this study was to examine sex differences in sleep-time preference by age among Italian pre-adolescents, adolescents, and adults. The final sample consisted of 8,972 participants (5,367 females and 3,605 males) from 10 to 87 yrs of age. To assess preferred sleep habits, we considered the answers to the open-ended questions of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). In agreement with previous studies, we found that sleep-time preference started to shift toward eveningness from the age of 13 yrs. Females reached their peak in eveningness earlier (about 17 yrs of age) than males (about 21 yrs of age). Thereafter, the ideal sleep-time preference advanced in men and women with increasing age. Females presented a more significant advanced sleep phase than males only during the years when sexual hormones are typically active. Moreover, females reported a longer ideal sleep duration than males across all age groups examined, except in over 55 yrs one.

none 4 no Animal studies have shown that the superior colliculus (SC) is important for synthesising information from multiple senses into a unified map of space. Here, we tested whether the SC is a critical neural substrate for multisensory spatial integration in humans. To do so, we took advantage of neurophysiological findings revealing that the SC does not receive direct projections from short-wavelength-sensitive S cones. In a simple reaction-time task, participants responded more quickly to concurrent peripheral (extra-foveal) audiovisual (AV) stimuli than to an auditory or visual stimulus alone, a phenomenon known as the redundant target effect (RTE). We show that the nature of this RTE was dependent on the colour of the visual stimulus. When using purple short-wavelength stimuli, to which the SC is blind, RTE was simply explained by probability summation, indicating that the redundant auditory and visual channels are independent. Conversely, with red long-wavelength stimuli, visible to the SC, the RTE was related to nonlinear neural summation, which constitutes evidence of integration of different sensory information. We also demonstrate that when AV stimuli were presented at fixation, so that the spatial orienting component of the task was reduced, neural summation was possible regardless of stimulus colour. Together, these findings provide support for a pivotal role of the SC in mediating multisensory spatial integration in humans, when behaviour involves spatial orienting responses mixed Leo F; Bertini C; di Pellegrino G; Ladavas E Leo F; Bertini C; di Pellegrino G; Ladavas E

none 4 The main purposes of the present study were to evaluate: the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the General Decision-Making Style Inventory (GDMS); the relationship among decision-making styles, as proposed by GDMS, and thinking styles, assessed by Style of Learning and Thinking (SOLAT). The psychometric properties of GDMS were evaluated on a sample of 422 students, while 230 students also completed the Italian version of the SOLAT. The reliability of the GDMS scales (rational, intuitive, dependent, avoidant and spontaneous) appeared to be satisfactory with good internal consistency. The pattern of inter-correlation between the different styles was in line with the results reported by the literature. Confirmatory and Exploratory factor analyses showed that the hypothesized 5-factor model provided an acceptable fit for the data. Furthermore, the patterns of relationship between the decision-making styles and the SOLAT scales provide concurrent validity of the GDMS. none Gambetti E.; Fabbri M.; Bensi L.; Tonetti L. Gambetti E.; Fabbri M.; Bensi L.; Tonetti L.

The present study aimed to compare two commercially available actigraphs, with a concurrent polysomnographic (PSG) recording. Twelve healthy volunteers (six women; age range 19–28 yrs) simultaneously wore the Basic Mini-Motionloggerw and Actiwatchw for seven overnight polysomnographic recordings. Comparisons of the following sleep measures were focused on: sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, and sleep efficiency. Both devices underestimated SOL in comparison to PSG, but they had similar performance compared to PSG for the other sleep measures. A limit of the study is that the results can be only generalized to healthy young subjects.

Résumé à venir

International audience; Unilateral spatial neglect is a disabling neurological condition that typically results from right hemisphere damage. Neglect patients are unable to take into account information coming from the left side of space. The study of neglect is important for understanding the brain mechanisms of spatial cognition, but its anatomical correlates are currently the object of intense debate. We propose a reappraisal of the contribution of disconnection factors to the pathophysiology of neglect based on a review of animal and patient studies. These indicate that damage to the long-range white matter pathways connecting parietal and frontal areas within the right hemisphere may constitute a crucial antecedent of neglect. Thus, neglect would not result from the dysfunction of a single cortical region but from the disruption of large networks made up of distant cortical regions. In this perspective, we also reexamined the possible contribution to neglect of interhemispheric disconnection. The reviewed evidence, often present in previous studies but frequently overlooked, is consistent with the existence of distributed cortical networks for orienting of attention in the normal brain, has implications for theories of neglect and normal spatial processing, opens perspectives for research on brain-behavior relationships, and suggests new possibilities for patient diagnosis and rehabilitation.

International audience; Alternative measures of confirmation or evidential support have been proposed to express the impact of ascertaining one event on the credibility of another. We report an experiment that compares the adequacy of several such measures as descriptions of confirmation judgment in a probabilistic context. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

International audience; Despite decades of research, the question of whether the rapid eye movements (REMs) of paradoxical sleep (PS) are equivalent to waking saccades and whether their direction is congruent with visual spatial events in the dream scene is still very controversial. We gained an insight into these questions through the study of a right brain damaged patient suffering attentional neglect for the left side of space and drop of the optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) with alternating rightward slow/leftward fast phases evoked by rightward optic flow. During PS the patient had frequent Nystagmoid REMs with alternating leftward slow/rightward fast phases and reported dreams with visual events evoking corresponding OKN such as a train running leftward. By contrast, just as in waking OKN, Nystagmoid REMs with alternating rightward slow/leftward fast phases were virtually absent. REMs followed by staring eye position or by consecutive REMs were also observed: these showed no asymmetry comparable to that of Nystagmoid ones. The selective disappearance of Nystagmoid REMs in one horizontal direction proves, for the first time, that in humans different types of REMs exists and that these are driven by different premotor mechanisms. Concomitant drop of OKN and Nystagmoid REMs toward the same horizontal direction demonstrates that phylogenetically ancient oculomotor mechanisms, such as the OKN, are shared by waking and PS. On this evidence and converging findings from animal, neuropsychological and brain imaging studies, a new evolutionary account of dream bizarreness is proposed. Classification and labelling of the different types of REMs are also provided.

Background: Most of the earlier studies on mood seasonality were conducted in adults and there are few available data on children and adolescents. In two cross sectional surveys, we examined the role of age and gender on seasonal sensitivity in subjects aged 10 to 25 years. Methods: In survey one, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (SPAQ-CA) was administered to 1709 subjects (845 females and 864 males) from 10 to 17 years. In survey two, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) was administered to 1867 subjects (1061 females and 806 males) from 18 to 25 years. Results: Only in survey one was a significant positive correlation found between age and Global Seasonality Score (GSS) (r=.29; p

The purpose of the present study aims to investigate the relationship between circadian typology and learning–thinking styles conceptualised as a preference toward information processing typical of the right vs. the left cerebral hemisphere. A sample of 1254 undergraduates (380 boys and 874 girls; mean age = 21.86 ± 2.37,) was administered the reduced version of the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (r-MEQ), which detects three chronotypes (morning-, intermediate- or evening-types), and the Style Of Learning And Thinking (SOLAT) questionnaire, conceived as a tool to measure the tendency toward the right-, integrated-, and left thinking. A two-way ANOVA on SOLAT scores with circadian typology and gender, as between-subjects factor, and age as covariant, showed that morning-types scored higher in the left-thinking scale than intermediate- and evening-types, and that evening-types obtained significant higher scores for right-thinking style than intermediate- and morning-types. This circadian typology effect was also confirmed by multiple regression.

none 6 none Natale V.; Grandi C.A.; Fabbri M.; Tonetti L.; Martoni M.; Esposito M.J. Natale V.; Grandi C.A.; Fabbri M.; Tonetti L.; Martoni M.; Esposito M.J.

Numerosi studi sulla previsione del successo scolastico hanno indagato il ruolo dei fattori motivazionali (Bouffard e Couture, 2003; Diseth e Martinsen, 2003; Valle et al., 2003; Linnenbrink, 2005), e di alcune variabili di controllo imputabili a fattori volitivi (Perry et. al., 2001;Nota et. al., 2004). I processi motivazionali sono inerenti alla scelta e alla preparazione dell'azione, mentre i processi volitivi implicano l'intenzionalità e comprendono processi di selezione delle attività e strategie pertinenti con l'obiettivo(Hechhausen, 1991). Le capacità volitive, inoltre, sono in stretta relazione ad aspetti emotivi quali ad esempiola fiducia in sè e le aspettative positive sul proprio operato (Kuhl, 2000). In numerose ricerche la qualità delle relazioni interpersonali e le votazioni scolastiche sono risultate strettamente interrelate (Cooper et al., 2004; Sroufe et al., 2005). Lo scopo del presente contributo è verificare il ruolo che assumono le variabili motivazionali, volitive e interpersonali nella predizione del successo scolastico. Il campione è costituito da 700 adolescenti (450 femmine e 250 maschi) con un'età media di 17,4 anni (ds=0.65), iscritti al V anno di diverse scuole secondarie superiori. Alla fine dell'anno scolastico sono stati raccoltii voti di maturità. E' stato somministrato il questionario "Mi Oriento" (D'Alessio, Laghi e Pallini, in corso di stampa), costituito da 5 sezione che indagano i seguenti costrutti: autopresentazione efficace, motivazione intrinseca ed estrinseca, attribuzione di causalità, componenti volitive e fiducia nelle relazioni. Dall'Analisi delle Componenti Principali, effettuata sui punteggi grezzi di scala, sono emersi 4 fattori che spiegano il 50,13%della varianza totale. Il primo fattore definito come Orientamento al compito (21,97% della varianza) è saturato dalle dimensioni volitive, quali in Controllo attentivo, Cognitivo e Pianificazione, dalla Demotivazione (saturazione negativa) e dell'attribuzione causale esterna dei propri successi ed insuccessi (saturazione negativa). Il secondo fattore denominato Orientamento alla relazione (l'11,01% della varianza) è saturato dalle dimensioni: Fiducia nell'agire, Immagine di sè sociale, Apertura verso gli altri, Accettazione di sè e Fiducia nelle relazioni. Il terzo fattore denominato Orientamento all'immagine (10,52% della varianza) è saturato dalle seguenti dimensioni: Sensibilità al comportamento altrui, Attribuzione di causalità interna e Motivazione Intrinseca. I punteggi fattoriali sono stati considerati come predittori nell'analisi della regressione multipla step-wise considerando il voto di maturità come misura-criterio. L'orientamento al compito risulta il predittore con maggior peso nella predizione del successo (subcampione mascile peso Beta=0.28; p=.014; subcampione femminile peso Beta= 0.31; p=.002). L'Orientamento all'immagine è sia nei maschi che nelle femmine inversamente correlato al successo scolastico (maschi=peso Beta=-0.19, p=.009; femmine= peso Beta=-.23; p=.004).

none 4 none Fabbri M.; Maiardi M.; Antonietti A.; Natale V. Fabbri M.; Maiardi M.; Antonietti A.; Natale V.

none 4 PEDONE R; COSENZA M; LABELLA A.G; NIGRO G Pedone, Roberto; Cosenza, Marina; LABELLA A., G; Nigro, Giovanna

none 4 Lo scopo del presente lavoro è di proporre una versione italiana di un questionario per la valutazione della tipologia circadiana in adolescenza. In base ai risultati emersi in una precedente ricerca si è deciso di replicare i dati ottenuti con il MEQ-A e di valutare le possibili alternative di due nuovi strumenti: la versione ridotta del MEQ-A e la DTS-A. Hanno partecipato alla ricerca 3018 ragazzi di età compresa tra gli 11 e i 16 ani. 1393 ragazzi hanno compilato il MEQ-A, 876 il MEQr-A e 749 la DTS-A. Nel complesso i risultati hanno confermato come strumento più idoneo a misurare la tipologia circadiana in adolescenza il MEQ-A. Sarebbe auspicabile in un prossimo futuro una validazione con criteri esterni. none Tonetti l.; Fabbri Marco; Martoni M.; Natale V. Tonetti l.; Fabbri Marco; Martoni M.; Natale V.

Peripheral vestibular organs feed the central nervous system with inputs favoring the correct perception of space during head and body motion. Applying temporal order judgments (TOJs) to pairs of simultaneous or asynchronous stimuli presented in the left and right egocentric space, we evaluated the influence of leftward and rightward vestibular rotatory accelerations given around the vertical head-body axis on covert attentional orienting. In a first experiment, we presented visual stimuli in the left and right hemifield. In a second experiment, tactile stimuli were presented to hands lying on their anatomical side or in a crossed position across the sagittal body midline. In both experiments, stimuli were presented while normal subjects suppressed or did not suppress the vestibulo-ocular response (VOR) evoked by head-body rotation. Independently of VOR suppression, visual and tactile stimuli presented on the side of rotation were judged to precede simultaneous stimuli presented on the side opposite the rotation. When limbs were crossed, attentional facilitatory effects were only observed for stimuli presented to the right hand lying in the left hemispace during leftward rotatory trials with VOR suppression. This result points to spatiotopic rather than somatotopic influences of vestibular inputs, suggesting that cross-modal effects of these inputs on tactile ones operate on a representation of space that is updated following arm crossing. In a third control experiment, we demonstrated that temporal prioritization of stimuli presented on the side of rotation was not determined by response bias linked to spatial compatibility between the directions of rotation and the directional labels used in TOJs (i.e., “left” or “right” first). These findings suggest that during passive rotatory head-body accelerations, covert attention is shifted toward the direction of rotation and the direction of the fast phases of the VOR.

none 3 A. Palmonari; A.R. Graziani; S. Moscatelli A. Palmonari; A.R. Graziani; S. Moscatelli

none 2 reserved CHIEFFI P; VARRIALE B. Chieffi, Paolo; Varriale, Bruno

none 7 IACHINI T; GNISCI A; RUGGIERO G; SERGI I; NIGRO G; PODERICO C; MARCONE R Iachini, Santa; Gnisci, Augusto; Ruggiero, Gennaro; Sergi, Ida; Nigro, G; Poderico, C; Marcone, Roberto

none 4 IAVARONE A; PODERICO C; RUGGIERO G; SERGI I Iavarone, A; Poderico, C; Ruggiero, Gennaro; Sergi, Ida

International audience; BACKGROUND: Do peripersonal space for acting on objects and interpersonal space for interacting with con-specifics share common mechanisms and reflect the social valence of stimuli? To answer this question, we investigated whether these spaces refer to a similar or different physical distance. METHODOLOGY: Participants provided reachability-distance (for potential action) and comfort-distance (for social processing) judgments towards human and non-human virtual stimuli while standing still (passive) or walking toward stimuli (active). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Comfort-distance was larger than other conditions when participants were passive, but reachability and comfort distances were similar when participants were active. Both spaces were modulated by the social valence of stimuli (reduction with virtual females vs males, expansion with cylinder vs robot) and the gender of participants. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that peripersonal reaching and interpersonal comfort spaces share a common motor nature and are sensitive, at different degrees, to social modulation. Therefore, social processing seems embodied and grounded in the body acting in space.

none 3 D'Olimpio F; Cieri L; Mancini F D'Olimpio, Francesca; Cieri, L; Mancini, F.

none 3 D'Olimpio F; Ferlazzo F; Mancini F D'Olimpio, Francesca; Ferlazzo, F; Mancini, F.

National audience; Abstract : Although the majority of research on developmental dyslexia has been carried out in English, a number of studies have been performed in different languages. Some of the findings suggest that learning to read in deep orthographies, such as English, is harder than in shallow orthographies such as Italian (Seymour, Aro, Erskine 2003). However, very few direct comparative studies have been carried out in order to highlight differences or similarities between different orthographies (e.g. Ziegler, Perry, Ma-Wyatt, Ladner, Schulte-Körne 2003). The present study aims at directly comparing reading-aloud abilities between French and Italian dyslexics by using a similar methodology for defining groups and measure performances. Results show a specific reading disorder in dyslexics and a lexicality effect which is not influenced by the type of orthography. By using a direct cross-linguistic comparison, this study provides evidence that lexicality effect is a general, non language-specific feature of the reading process, at least among French and Italian subjects.