Efectos de la obesidad y de la cirurgía bariátrica sobre patrones cognitivos y perceptuales de los humanos

Abstract

Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that can be harmful to health and has been considered epidemic, since it is a disease with high prevalence in most countries of the world. Currently there is the idea that deficiencies in cognitive functions associated with the frontal lobe, contribute to the maintenance of obesity, however, there are investigations that contradict this postulate. On the other hand, the patterns of visual perception, measured with the Rorschach test, have been linked to weight gain and obesity, the results that determined this relationship are not conclusive. The main objective of this study was to determine if obesity or bariatric surgery generate differences in the patterns of visual perception and humans cognitive functioning. Additionally, we sought to relate the neuropsychological functions of the cortex occito-temporo-parietal, which participate in the perception of visual stimuli, with the neuropsychological functions of the prefrontal cortex. The research included the participation of 48 subjects, divided into 3 groups (diagnosed with obesity, undergoing bariatric surgery and a control group), which were evaluated with the Rorscahch test and the Stroop and MCSTneuropsychological tests. Our results showed similar values for the three groups in the measurements made with the neuropsychological tests and with the visual perception test. In addition, three indicators of the visual perception test were correlated with indicators of sustained attention, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. Our main conclusion is that the obese or bariatric subjects do not present differences in cognitive functioning or visual perception patterns. We also conclude that there are indicators of the Rorschach test that present a potential to be considered neuropsychological indicators.groups in the measurements made with the neuropsychological tests and with the visual perception test. In addition, three indicators of the visual perception test were correlated with indicators of sustained attention, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. Our main conclusion is that the obese or bariatric subjects do not present differences in cognitive functioning or visual perception patterns. We also conclude that there are indicators of the Rorschach test that present a potential to be considered neuropsychological indicators.