Are Time and Action Dissociated in Young Children''s Time Estimation?

Experiment 1 examined whether there is a developmental shift in children's ability to differentiate a given amount of time from a particular action. In three sessions, 3- and 5 1/2-year-olds were trained to produce an action (i.e., pressing on a squeezer) for 5 s. Twenty-four hours later, control participants were required to produce this target duration using the same action, whereas experimental participants had to do so with a new action (i.e., pressing a button). The results showed that the 5 1/2-year-olds achieved the same temporal performance in both groups. In contrast, the 3-year-olds' temporal performance was significantly better in the control group than in the experimental group. Two additional studies were run with 3-year-olds, the first designed to assess the transfer without a delay, and the second with explicit instructions to transfer duration. In each study, 3-year-olds' temporal performance was significantly better in the control group than in the experimental group. These findings as a whole suggest that 3-year-olds fail to understand that one and the same duration can be shared by several different actions. Early implicit knowledge of time was discussed.     

Neuropsychological, learning and psychosocial profile of primary school aged children with the velo-cardio-facial syndrome (22q11 deletion): evidence for a nonverbal learning disability?

In this exploratory study, the neuropsychological and learning profile of nine primary school age children with velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) was studied by systematic neuropsychological testing. In five out of nine children, the following profile was found: a VIQ-PIQ discrepancy (in favor of the VIQ), significantly better scores (.05 level) for reading (decoding) and spelling compared to arithmetic, deficient tactile-perceptual skills (difficulties mainly on the left side of the body), weak but not deficient visual-perceptual abilities, deficient visual-spatial skills, extremely poor psychomotor skills (gross motor skills more deficient than fine motor skills), problems with processing of new and complex material, poor visual attention, good auditory memory and relatively good language skills. These findings correspond to the pattern of neuropsychological assets and deficits that has been described for the syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) (Rourke, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1995). The psychosocial profile of all nine children with VCFS also correspond to that of children with NLD. Further studies on the relationship between cognitive function, behavior, psychiatric disorder and abnormalities in brain anatomy in young people with VCFS will be needed. In clinical practice, it is worthwhile exploring in greater depth the neuropsychological functions of children with VCFS to rule out NLD, since they may benefit from specific remediation following the learning principles of the NLD-treatment.     

Duty to Re-Contact: A Study of Families at Risk for Fragile X

DNA testing for Fragile X syndrome is now routinely available through a large number of diagnostic laboratories. We have surveyed individuals from British Columbia Fragile X families identified prior to the availability of DNA testing for FMR1 to determine if they are subsequently receiving information about DNA testing. Of the 78 individuals first seen before the cloning of the FMR1 gene, 39 (50%) had not been seen in the clinic to discuss DNA testing. We initiated a contact program with these 39 patients to determine their interest in DNA testing. Contact was made with 28 individuals, 20 of whom stated interest in testing either for themselves or for a relative. Patient opinions about DNA testing were assessed through questionnaires. In those individuals who stated an interest in DNA testing, the most common reason for wishing testing was to provide information to children or grandchildren. The most common disadvantages of testing indicated by this group were that they had finished their families and that they felt the test would not have a direct impact. The most common reasons individuals were not interested in DNA testing were that there were no family members appropriate to test and that the respondent had completed his or her family. DNA testing has been performed for 13 of the 28 (46%) contacted individuals and/or at least one relative. In view of the high level of interest for testing in families who had not been seen since the cloning of the FMR1 gene, we feel that FMR1 screening programs should include actively contacting previously seen individuals.     

Vestibular sensitivity and vection chronometry along the spinal axis in erect man

A study is reported of the relations between vestibular sensitivity and vection chronometry in healthy human adults. Twenty-three subjects were examined. For both vestibular and vection investigations, the subjects were seated in an armchair with the spinal axis aligned with the earth vertical and the head normally erect. The subjects' vestibular thresholds for detection of vertical upward accelerations were assessed by a double-staircase psychophysical method. The subjects' vection onset latencies were measured for both upward and downward directions. Since the vection onset latencies are presumed to be shortened by the decrease of the conflict between visual and vestibular afferents, the less-vestibular-sensitive subjects were hypothesised to have shorter vection onset latencies than the more-vestibular-sensitive ones. As expected, the results indicate a negative correlation between vestibular thresholds and vection onset latencies: the higher the vestibular thresholds, the lower the vection onset latencies.     

Self-reported adjustment of teenagers at soccer training centers: the Soccer Trainee Adjustment Scale

The aim of this study was to develop a questionnaire to measure adjustment of teenagers at soccer training centers, particularly newcomers. The Soccer Trainee Adjustment Scale was adapted from the Institutional Integration Scale and assesses the trainee's adjustment to operating and social activities. The scale was tested on a sample of 136 trainees from four soccer centers. Exploratory analysis indicated that the 13 items formed five factors: peer adjustment, boarding supervisor adjustment, soccer adjustment, scholastic adjustment, and boarding adjustment. These factors had internal consistency reliability ranging from .76 to .94.     

Gender and education impact on brain aging: a general cognitive factor approach

In cognitive aging research, the study of a general cognitive factor has been shown to have a substantial explanatory power over the study of isolated tests. The authors aimed at differentiating the impact of gender and education on global cognitive change with age from their differential impact on 4 psychometric tests using a new latent process approach, which intermediates between a single-factor longitudinal model for sum scores and an item-response theory approach for longitudinal data. The analysis was conducted on a sample of 2,228 subjects from PAQUID, a population-based cohort of older adults followed for 13 years with repeated measures of cognition. Adjusted for vascular factors, the analysis confirmed that women performed better in tests involving verbal components, while men performed better in tests involving visuospatial skills. In addition, the model suggested that women had a slightly steeper global cognitive decline with oldest age than men, even after excluding incident dementia or death. Subjects with higher education exhibited a better mean score for the 4 tests, but this difference tended to attenuate with age for tests involving a speed component.     

The temporal dynamics of consolidation and reconsolidation decrease during postnatal development

The temporal dynamics of consolidation and reconsolidation of taste/odor aversion memory are evaluated during rat pup growth at postnatal days 3, 10, and 18. This is assessed through the temporal gradients of efficacy of a protein synthesis inhibitor (anisomycin) in inducing amnesia after either acquisition (consolidation) or reactivation (reconsolidation). The results show a progressive reduction with age of the delay during which the inhibitor is able to induce amnesia. Control experiments rule out a reduction of anisomycin efficacy due to blood brain barrier growth or decrease in protein synthesis inhibition. Thus, these results present the first evidence that the protein synthesis-dependent phase of memory stabilization requires less time with age. This decrease occurs in parallel for consolidation and reconsolidation. Such changes in the dynamics of memory processing could contribute to the cognitive improvement associated with development.     

Reconceptualizing relative deprivation in the context of dramatic social change: the challenge confronting the people of Kyrgyzstan

The present study investigated the relationship between Temporal Collective Relative Deprivation and collective well‐being in the context of dramatic social change in Kyrgyzstan. Traditional research has evaluated Temporal Collective Relative Deprivation by comparing a group's present situation to a point in the recent past or future. We argue that a reconceptualization of Temporal Collective Relative Deprivation is needed. We hypothesized, first, that examining several, as opposed to a single, points of comparison will better predict collective well‐being. Secondly, we hypothesized that the points of comparison that will best predict collective well‐being will not necessarily correspond to the most recent past or future. Third, we hypothesized that the overall trajectory of Temporal Collective Relative Deprivation perceived across time will influence the level of collective well‐being. A sample of 565 Kyrgyz participants completed a questionnaire. Hierarchical regressions and group‐based trajectory modeling confirmed our three hypotheses. Theoretical and methodological implications of the findings are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.