Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 Dec · PMID 33203247
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According to the dynamic dominance model, the left cerebral hemisphere is specialized for the control of intersegmental dynamics and the right hemisphere for impedance control. Our aim was to test predictions from the dy...According to the dynamic dominance model, the left cerebral hemisphere is specialized for the control of intersegmental dynamics and the right hemisphere for impedance control. Our aim was to test predictions from the dynamic dominance model in children by comparing performance between the right (preferred) and left hands in aiming. Three groups were compared: 4-7, 8-11, and 18-38 years old. Results showed higher movement linearity in the performance with the right hand in all age groups ( < .01), while initial directional error and endpoint accuracy were equivalent between hands. These results provided partial support for the dynamic dominance model.
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 Dec · PMID 33100051
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Executive functions (EF) continue developing throughout adolescence, with immaturity in EF theorized to underlie risk-taking. 129 older adolescents and young adults (aged 17 to 22 years) were assessed using a battery of...Executive functions (EF) continue developing throughout adolescence, with immaturity in EF theorized to underlie risk-taking. 129 older adolescents and young adults (aged 17 to 22 years) were assessed using a battery of cool and hot EF tasks, and a behavioral measure of risk-taking propensity. Minimal age-related differences in EF performance were evident, confirming they were largely functionally mature by mid-adolescence. Inconsistent with the predictions of imbalance models of adolescent development, weaker EF was not associated with greater risk-taking propensity. The findings suggest that during later adolescence and early adulthood, not all forms of risk-taking are associated with EF.
The objective was to investigate whether perinatal maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms predicted child attention and executive function (EF). Mothers (N = 614) reported pregnancy and three-months postnatal anxiety a...The objective was to investigate whether perinatal maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms predicted child attention and executive function (EF). Mothers (N = 614) reported pregnancy and three-months postnatal anxiety and depressive symptoms. Attention and EF were measured at two-years-of-age. Covariates were demographics, alcohol use, mood disorder history, and pregnancy factors. Higher prenatal anxiety, =.020(.005), <.001, and postnatal depressive symptoms, =.009(.004), =.04, predicted poorer child attention. A prenatal-by-postnatal depressive symptom interaction emerged, = -.005(.003), =.04: When pregnancy depressive symptoms were low, higher postnatal symptoms predicted poorer attention. No distress variables predicted EF, 's>.22. Perinatal distress timing, kind, and change were important for child attention.
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 Sep · PMID 33078653
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This study examined the test-retest reliability of the error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) amplitudes using a Flanker task in 118 neurotypical children and 53 adults before and after latency jitter a...This study examined the test-retest reliability of the error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) amplitudes using a Flanker task in 118 neurotypical children and 53 adults before and after latency jitter adjustments. The reliability of the ERN and Pe amplitudes was moderate for children and moderate to strong for adults. The latency variability adjustment did not improve the reliability of the ERN and Pe amplitudes for either group, suggesting that latency variability may be a trait-like measure. For comparison purposes, the reliability of the stimulus-locked ERPs was strong for correct trials, yet the reliability was weak for incorrect trials.
Symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, arranged along a continuum, are commonly associated with neuropsychological and academic deficits, even in the general population. The aim of this study is to analyz...Symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, arranged along a continuum, are commonly associated with neuropsychological and academic deficits, even in the general population. The aim of this study is to analyze how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms are associated with the performance in neuropsychological and academic abilities (phonological processing, processing speed/automatic attention, executive functions, reading, and spelling) in school-age children. The sample consisted of 216 children from 3 and 4 grades (M = 8.94 years old, SD =.71) from public elementary schools of two Brazilian capitals. Pearson correlation and Multiple Linear Regression analysis were performed. Inattention symptoms were the only predictors of performance in phonological processing (phoneme suppression and rapid automatized naming of letters), processing speed/automatic attention, executive functions, such as inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, and reading fluency. Beta values ranged from .14 to .27, and the largest value was related to an inhibitory control task. Inattention, and not hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms, seems to affect neuropsychological functions even in non-clinical diagnosed children. Contributions and future directions are discussed.
Individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) are reported to have intellectual disability but to our knowledge, no detailed study about neuropsychological functioning of this condition has eve...Individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) are reported to have intellectual disability but to our knowledge, no detailed study about neuropsychological functioning of this condition has ever been published. The present study assessed neuropsychological outcomes of two children with CIPA using standardized neuropsychological tests. The neuropsychological assessment revealed difficulties in a wide range of cognitive, executive, and integrative functions, such as a behavioral and adaptive level. Both children with CIPA functioned in the intellectual disability range with symptoms related to an executive dysfunction and negative-oriented personal emotional processing, and limitations in academic and self-care skills.
The present longitudinal study focused on domain-general predictors of arithmetics in elementary school. The role of executive functions (EFs) and fine motor skills for the prediction of arithmetic skills in 1st/2nd grad...The present longitudinal study focused on domain-general predictors of arithmetics in elementary school. The role of executive functions (EFs) and fine motor skills for the prediction of arithmetic skills in 1st/2nd grade was examined. Data from N = 173 kindergarten children were included. Age, socioeconomic status, fluid intelligence, and processing speed were controlled. Regression analyses revealed that fine motor skills predicted arithmetic skills. When EFs were added, fine motor skills did not contribute to the prediction of arithmetic skills. Visuospatial working memory and interference control were significant predictors. Findings indicate an important role of EF as predictors of arithmetic skills.
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 Aug · PMID 32791853
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Data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care were used to test whether maternal sensitivity and stimulation at 15 and 54 months predicted child attention, impulsivity,...Data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care were used to test whether maternal sensitivity and stimulation at 15 and 54 months predicted child attention, impulsivity, and delay of gratification at 54 months, and whether toddler attention and temperamental difficultness moderated associations. Maternal sensitivity at 54 months was positively associated with children's delay of gratification and negatively associated with inattention and impulsivity at 54 months. Maternal stimulation at 15 months was negatively associated with inattention at 54 months for toddlers with higher levels of attention focusing and temperamental difficultness. The importance of attending to individual differences is discussed.
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 Aug · PMID 32723095
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Based on a representational perspective, this paper examines executive functioning in Down syndrome. Sixteen young adults with Down syndrome, 16 mental age- and 16 age-matched controls were compared on script sequencing...Based on a representational perspective, this paper examines executive functioning in Down syndrome. Sixteen young adults with Down syndrome, 16 mental age- and 16 age-matched controls were compared on script sequencing and sorting tasks. Participants were asked to reestablish the sequential structure of script actions given with or without irrelevant actions. Impairments in script information processing were observed only in young adults with Down syndrome, who performed more slowly than controls, making mistakes in ordering actions, but rejecting aberrant elements. These data are consistent with the view that Down syndrome impairs the syntactic but not semantic dimension of script representation.
Grose-Fifer J, Lobel M, diFilipo D
… +1 more, Gordon J
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 Aug · PMID 32648782
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Slow maturation of visual pathways transmitting low spatial frequency (LSF) information may contribute to inaccurate facial emotion recognition in adolescence. We recorded ERPs from adolescents and adults to upright and...Slow maturation of visual pathways transmitting low spatial frequency (LSF) information may contribute to inaccurate facial emotion recognition in adolescence. We recorded ERPs from adolescents and adults to upright and inverted happy faces, fearful faces, and chairs, which were unfiltered, contained only LSFs, or only high spatial frequencies. P100s and N170s were larger for adolescents than adults, with the greatest effect size for LSF stimuli. For LSFs only, adolescents showed a larger N170 inversion effect for happy than for fearful faces, but adults showed the opposite response. Thus, immaturities in LSF pathways appear to impact facial expression processing in adolescents.
Fuchs CT, Becker K, Austin E
… +1 more, Tamplain P
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 Aug · PMID 32633136
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Motor imagery (MI) refers to the imagination of a motor task without actual movement execution. The purpose of this study was to compare MI accuracy and vividness, and motor proficiency between children ( = 101; 7-12 yea...Motor imagery (MI) refers to the imagination of a motor task without actual movement execution. The purpose of this study was to compare MI accuracy and vividness, and motor proficiency between children ( = 101; 7-12 years) and young adults ( = 140; 18-25 years). Results indicated that young adults were significantly more accurate and rated their MI significantly more vivid than children. For MI accuracy, between-subject effects showed that young adults had higher scores than children on three of the four subscales and the action subscale significantly predicted motor proficiency. These findings indicate that MI ability continues to develop into adulthood.
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 Aug · PMID 32627601
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Forty parents of youth soccer players of ages 5-17 years, in Sicily, Italy completed a survey measuring knowledge of concussion symptoms and facts. Parents averaged 16 out of 23 correct responses (69.5%) on the survey, w...Forty parents of youth soccer players of ages 5-17 years, in Sicily, Italy completed a survey measuring knowledge of concussion symptoms and facts. Parents averaged 16 out of 23 correct responses (69.5%) on the survey, with no significant correlation between parental age and education and knowledge. Italian parents were more familiar with somatic symptoms (92.5%-100% correct) than emotional/behavioral (27.5%-57.5% correct) and sleep symptoms (45.0%). Comparisons to U.S. and Australian research showed general agreement on knowledge of concussion symptoms, but less awareness of other concussion facts among Italian parents. More research on cross-cultural concussion education and barriers to concussion resources is warranted.
This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Theory of Mind assessment scale in children (ToMas-child). Two hundred and fifty-two Spanish children from 3 to 7 years were assessed in school settings. R...This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Theory of Mind assessment scale in children (ToMas-child). Two hundred and fifty-two Spanish children from 3 to 7 years were assessed in school settings. Rasch analysis showed the ToMas-child is a unidimensional scale valid for the assessment of the main components of the ToM in children. Data of hierarchical distribution of six items (seven tasks) are discussed as milestones in the latent construct of ToM development in childhood, and construct validity of the scale is examined. A reliability index of PSI = 0.7 indicated the usefulness of the scale as a screening tool.
Schatz P, Corcoran M, Kontos AP
… +1 more, Elbin RJ
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 · PMID 32419513
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Increased focus on sports-related concussion (SRC) in football in the media, and mandatory concussion education for parents of youth sport athletes, may result in parental concern that youth athletes will experience long...Increased focus on sports-related concussion (SRC) in football in the media, and mandatory concussion education for parents of youth sport athletes, may result in parental concern that youth athletes will experience long-term effects from concussion. We sought to identify beliefs about long-term effects of concussion in parents of youth soccer athletes. Four hundred and eleven parents from soccer leagues in three states completed a survey assessing parents' perceptions and knowledge of long-term effects of SRC. Nearly all youth soccer parents surveyed (96.5%) believe there are long-term effects from SRCs, 76% reported concern their child would sustain a concussion, and 71% had talked with their child about concussion symptoms/reporting. Parents ranked tackle football as having the highest risk for concussion, followed by soccer, ice hockey, cheerleading, and lacrosse. Parents of children that had previously sustained a concussion were 8.3x more likely to be concerned their child would sustain a concussion, and parents with a personal history of concussion were 2x more likely to consider not allowing their child to participate in youth sports. There are wide-spread beliefs among youth soccer parents regarding long-term effects of SRCs, and concerns their children will sustain concussions while participating in youth sports.
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 · PMID 32412307
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This study used a novel approach that combined the latency and accuracy scores to examine the relative involvement of inhibition and working memory in two measures of cognitive flexibility - mixing cost and switch cost i...This study used a novel approach that combined the latency and accuracy scores to examine the relative involvement of inhibition and working memory in two measures of cognitive flexibility - mixing cost and switch cost in 110 Nigerian adolescents. Results showed that inhibition was significantly associated with switch cost. On the other hand, working memory was negatively associated with mixing cost. These findings support the assumption that cognitive flexibility skills are dependent on inputs from inhibition and working memory processes. Inhibition is involved in the deactivation of irrelevant stimuli during switching trials while working memory is essential to maintain the current rule in sets that require no shifting.
We compared the performance of children with ADHD and typically developing children on two temporal tasks, a bisection task and a reproduction task, in auditory and visual modalities. Children with ADHD presented a large...We compared the performance of children with ADHD and typically developing children on two temporal tasks, a bisection task and a reproduction task, in auditory and visual modalities. Children with ADHD presented a larger variability when performing auditory and visual temporal tasks. Moreover, they overestimated the durations in bisection tasks and underproduced duration intervals in the visual reproduction task. In the context of the pacemaker-accumulator model, these results suggest that temporal deficits might result from a dysfunction in the switch and/or memory impairment.
Hammers DB, Kucera A, Spencer RJ
… +4 more, Abildskov TJ, Archibald ZG, Hoffman JM, Wilde EA
Dev Neuropsychol
· 2020 · PMID 32374196
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Convergent validation of a verbal incidental learning (IL) task from the WAIS-IV using neuroimaging biomarkers is warranted to understand its sensitivity to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Fifty-five memory clinic pa...Convergent validation of a verbal incidental learning (IL) task from the WAIS-IV using neuroimaging biomarkers is warranted to understand its sensitivity to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Fifty-five memory clinic patients aged 59 to 87 years received neuropsychological assessment, and measures of IL and quantitative brain imaging. Worse IL-Total Score and IL-Similarities performances were significantly associated with smaller hemispheric hippocampal volumes. IL measures were not significantly correlated with cerebral β-amyloid burden, though a trend was present and effect sizes were mild. These hippocampal volume results suggest that this IL task may be sensitive to AD pathology along the AD continuum.
The field of neuropsychology is becoming increasingly responsive to addressing the specific needs of an ever-growing Hispanic/Latinx population. As such, bilingualism and bilingual education are at the forefront of consi...The field of neuropsychology is becoming increasingly responsive to addressing the specific needs of an ever-growing Hispanic/Latinx population. As such, bilingualism and bilingual education are at the forefront of considerations for neuropsychologists. This paper examines models of bilingual academic instruction and levels of bilingualism and how they impact neuropsychological findings and diagnostic determinations in pediatrics. The present case series highlights five children assessed in a pediatric medical setting. Various profiles are analyzed to highlight the intricacies in assessment that must be considered. These findings present a set of considerations as a step toward a systematic approach to bilingual neuropsychological assessment.