Cristian Adrian Villegas Dianta

Dr. Cristian Adrian Villegas Dianta

University of the Americas, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
+1
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
Felipe Montalva-ValenzuelaFelipe Montalva-Valenzuela
Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela
OAOscar Andrades-Ramírez
Oscar Andrades-Ramírez
Antonio Castillo ParedesAntonio Castillo Paredes
Antonio Castillo Paredes
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that negatively affects the inattention, disorganization, and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity in children and adolescents who suffer from it, included cases being reported that continue into adulthood. This disorder impairs social, academic, emotional, psychological, and health system functioning due to its high cost of treatment. The present systematic review aims to analyze the effects of physical activity, exercise, and sports on the executive function in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD through the scientific literature. The results show that the practice of physical activity, exercise, or sport produces improvements in executive function in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, mainly through aerobic exercise. A 20 min session of physical activity, sport, or exercise leads to improvements in executive functions in children and adolescents with ADHD. It can be concluded that the practice of physical activity, exercise, and sport generate improvements on executive functions in children and adolescents with ADHD, mainly through aerobic exercise.

9 March 2023 in Sensors
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ÁDÁngel Denche-Zamorano
Ángel Denche-Zamorano
YRYeray Rodríguez-Redondo
Yeray Rodríguez-Redondo
Sabina Barrios-FernandezSabina Barrios-Fernandez
Sabina Barrios-Fernandez
María Mendoza-MuñozMaría Mendoza-Muñoz
María Mendoza-Muñoz
Antonio Castillo ParedesAntonio Castillo Paredes
Antonio Castillo Paredes
José Carmelo AdsuarJosé Carmelo Adsuar
José Carmelo Adsuar
Researchers’ interest in finding practical applications for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies has increased as new devices have become cheaper and more accessible, being used in entertainment, healthcare, and rehabilitation fields, among others. This study aims to provide an overview of the current state of scientific literature related to VR, AR, and physical activity (PA). A bibliometric analysis of studies published between 1994 and 2022 was conducted using The Web of Science (WoS), applying the traditional bibliometric laws and using the VOSviewer software for data and metadata processing. The results revealed an exponential increase in scientific production between 2009 and 2021 (R2 = 94%). The United States (USA) was the country/region with the most relevant co-authorship networks (72 papers); the most prolific author was Kerstin Witte, and the most prominent was Richard Kulpa. The most productive journal’s core was composed of high-impact and open access journals. A great thematic diversity was found according to the most used keywords by the co-authors, highlighting concepts such as rehabilitation, cognition, training, and obesity. Then, the research related to this topic is in an exponential development phase, with great interest in the rehabilitation and sports sciences fields.

18 November 2025 in Brain Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Eduardo Guzmán-MuñozEduardo Guzmán-Muñoz
Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz
Yeny Concha-CisternasYeny Concha-Cisternas
Yeny Concha-Cisternas
ESEmilio Jofre Saldia
Emilio Jofre Saldia
Antonio Castillo ParedesAntonio Castillo Paredes
Antonio Castillo Paredes
IMIván Ignacio Molina-Márquez
Iván Ignacio Molina-Márquez
RYRodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda
Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda
Background/Objectives: Executive functions—including inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility—are fundamental for children’s learning and development. Physical activity is recognized as a key factor that enhances these functions through neurobiological and structural brain adaptations. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on the relationship between physical activity, executive functions, and brain outcomes in children. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using systematic evidence search across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until August 2025. Search terms encompassed physical activity, executive functions, and brain mechanisms. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that examined executive function domains and brain-related outcomes in children, with or without neurodevelopmental disorders. Results: The evidence reviewed highlights that acute physical activity improves inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, primarily through enhanced neurotransmission and cerebral oxygenation. Chronic interventions promote structural and functional brain adaptations, including improved white matter integrity and increased network efficiency. Benefits are observed in both neurotypical children and those with ADHD, with inhibitory control emerging as the most responsive domain. However, findings are moderated by intervention type, intensity, and duration, with heterogeneity across protocols. Conclusions: Physical activity is a promising strategy to support the development of executive and brain functions in childhood, with implications for education and clinical practice. Despite consistent short- and long-term benefits, further research is required to establish optimal prescriptions and evaluate sustained real-world impacts, particularly in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Antonio Castillo ParedesAntonio Castillo Paredes
Antonio Castillo Paredes
NJNatalia Inostroza Jiménez
Natalia Inostroza Jiménez
MPMaribel Parra-Saldías
Maribel Parra-Saldías
XPXimena Palma-Leal
Ximena Palma-Leal
José Luis FelipeJosé Luis Felipe
José Luis Felipe
Fernando Rodriguez-RodríguezFernando Rodriguez-Rodríguez
Fernando Rodriguez-Rodríguez
Biking and walking are active commuting, which is considered an opportunity to create healthy habits. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the main environmental and psychosocial barriers perceived by students, leading to less Active Commuting (AC) to university and to not reaching the Physical Activity (PA) recommendations. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1349 university students (637 men and 712 women) were selected. A self-reported questionnaire was applied to assess the mode of commuting, PA level and barriers to the use of the AC. Results: Women presented higher barriers associated with passive commuting than men. The main barriers for women were “involves too much planning” (OR: 5.25; 95% CI: 3.14–8.78), “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.62; 95% CI: 3.05–6.99) and “It takes too much physical effort “ (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 2.05–4.94). In men, the main barriers were “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 2.97–5.99), “involves too much planning” (OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.67–3.70) and “too much traffic along the route” (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.47–2.93). Psychosocial barriers were found in both sexes. Conclusions: Psychosocial and personal barriers were more positively associated with passive commuting than environmental barriers. Interventions at the university are necessary to improve the perception of AC and encourage personal organization to travel more actively.

27 April 2023 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YRYeray Rodríguez-Redondo
Yeray Rodríguez-Redondo
ÁDÁngel Denche-Zamorano
Ángel Denche-Zamorano
LAURA MUÑOZ BERMEJOLAURA MUÑOZ BERMEJO
LAURA MUÑOZ BERMEJO
JRJorge Rojo Ramos
Jorge Rojo Ramos
José Carmelo AdsuarJosé Carmelo Adsuar
José Carmelo Adsuar
Sabina Barrios-FernandezSabina Barrios-Fernandez
Sabina Barrios-Fernandez
Unrestrained urbanisation and natural space loss are reducing contact with nature in today’s society, producing negative consequences for people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing. Nature-based therapies, such as physical activity in natural settings, forest bathing, therapeutic hiking, or experiential learning, reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms and improve the quality of life in both general and specific populations. A bibliometric analysis of research on nature-based therapies was performed by applying the traditional laws of bibliometrics (exponential growth law, Bradford’s concentration law, Lotka’s law, Zipf’s law, etc.) to documents published in journals indexed in the Core Collection of the Web of Science (WoS). Graphical visualisation was performed using the VOSviewer software. Annual publications between 2006 and 2021 presented an exponential growth trend (R2 = 91%). The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI) and Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (Elsevier) were the most productive and cited journals. Ikei, Miyazaki, and Song are the most cited prolific authors. The USA and South Korea were the countries with the highest scientific production. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in adventure, nature, and forest therapies among researchers. Nature-based therapies have experienced a growing interest in recent years. Positive effects on mental, physical, and emotional health have been found in different populations and research lines, although more studies with different designs and populations are needed.

Antonio Castillo ParedesAntonio Castillo Paredes
Antonio Castillo Paredes
KVKaren Patricia Núñez Valdés
Karen Patricia Núñez Valdés
Cristian Adrian Villegas DiantaCristian Adrian Villegas Dianta
Cristian Adrian Villegas Dianta
NONeliot Villena Olivares
Neliot Villena Olivares
MNMarisol López Núñez
Marisol López Núñez
GNgerson nunez
gerson nunez
Initial Teacher Training (ITT) has been a recurring theme in recent years in Chilean educational policy and the field of educational research, mainly due to its impact on the Chilean educational system. Under its relevance, this article analyzes ITT and some aspects of its improvement through the revision methodology described by Kart and Kart (2021). Among the main findings, it is possible to mention that the research provides evidence on the decisions that should be made around the teaching profession and the improvement of initial training not only at the institutional level but also at the educational policy level. At the same time, it highlights the need for comprehensive support for future pedagogues and the importance of using the data obtained through the ‘National Diagnostic Evaluation’ for decision making.