Mariana Sánchez Suárez, a sixth-semester medical student and member of the Neuroscience and Behavior Research Group, presented her research at the 34th International Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology (ICCN 2026), held in Cartagena.
Student research in neuroscience continues to open doors for young UIS researchers to participate in scientific forums with international reach. On this occasion, Mariana Sánchez Suárez, a sixth-semester medical student and member of the Neuroscience and Behavior Research Group (SNyC), participated as a poster presenter.
During the conference, the student presented the paper “Variations in autonomic response and evaluation of stress and adaptability markers during video game performance,” a study that explores adaptation mechanisms and the autonomic nervous system’s response to interactive tasks involving high cognitive and motor demands.
The study was authored and supervised by Dr. Angie Sidney Naranjo García, professor of Physiology and coordinator of the Neuroscience and Behavior Research Group, and by Dr. Carlos Arturo Conde Cotes, director of the UIS-UPB Neuroscience and Behavior Research Group and professor affiliated with the Department of Basic Sciences at the School of Medicine.
Video Games as a Model of Cognitive and Physiological Challenge
The project focused on analyzing variations in different physiological markers associated with stress during interaction with video games, which were used as an experimental model of cognitive and motor challenge.
To this end, the team employed noninvasive multimodal physiological monitoring, which allowed for the simultaneous recording of signals related to the body’s response, including heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), electrodermal activity (EDA), photoplethysmography (PPG), and respiratory patterns.
Among the main findings, the study identified statistically significant changes in respiratory rate modulation and cardiorespiratory coupling during the interactive task.
These results provide insights into how the body responds to and adapts to situations that simultaneously demand cognitive, motor, and physiological resources.
Research Training Starting in Undergraduate Studies
Mariana Sánchez Suárez’s participation in ICCN 2026 represents an opportunity to highlight the work being carried out through the research incubators and with the support of faculty members and research groups at the School of Health.
These programs strengthen scientific training beginning at the undergraduate level and enable students to become involved in research early on, develop skills for generating and communicating knowledge, and present the results of their work in academic settings with national and international reach.
At the UIS School of Health, we highlight this achievement as a testament to our institutional commitment to training new researchers and advancing knowledge in areas fundamental to understanding the nervous system and its responses to various challenges.
