Neuromotor Functioning and Behavior Problems in Children at Risk for Psychopathology

Previous studies have found that early neuromotor deficits may be a precursor of later psychopathology. The present study examined the relationship between neuromotor dysfunction and behavioral deviance in children characterized by a variety of risk factors (parental schizophrenia, parental psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia, and parental maltreatment). The sample consisted of 108 children (average age 9.75 years) who were assessed twice, approximately 1 year apart. It was found that maltreated children had poorer neuromotor functioning and more behavior problems than children who were not maltreated, regardless of parental psychiatric status. The results also indicated that the relationship between neuromotor functioning and problem behaviors varied as a function of parental psychiatric status. These findings suggest that, although the effects of maltreatment are generalized and pervasive, there are distinctive relationships between neuromotor functioning and behavioral deviance depending on the nature of the risk factors a child has been exposed to.     

Variations in Self-Determination Across the Stages of Change for Exercise in Adults

This study explored the relationship between self-determination in the regulation of exercise behavior and stage of change for exercise. Deci and Ryan (1985, 1990) outlined a continuum of behavioral regulation that ranges from non-self-determined regulation (external regulation) to completely self-determined regulation (intrinsic regulation). Prochaska and DiClemente (1984) outlined five stages of behavior change that range from no thoughts of changing (precontemplation) to maintenance of change (maintenance). In our study, 314 individuals completed measures of regulation in exercise behavior and stage of change for exercise. Discriminant function analysis revealed that those in the latter stages of change were more self-determined in their behavioral regulation than those in the early stages of change. An analysis of variance indicated that self-determination increased from the lower to the upper stages of change. Results endorse the importance of motivational considerations in understanding the change process.     

Future Research Directions in Laterality

This paper considers the current conceptual state of research into neuropsychological laterality and considers some issues which might appropriately be considered for the forward development of the field. It considers the biological context which has been adopted for these studies and the psychological significance of performance asymmetries. A principal emphasis of the paper is the degree to which inferences, rather than direct methodological deductions, can be drawn from the research undertaken. The status of the dichotomies which have been proposed, the role of interhemispheric transfer, and stages of processing models are considered. The degree to which cerebral asymmetries may be inferred to reflect normal processes of the brain is questioned, and some prospects of the future discussed.     

Interhemispheric transfer of figural information in right- and non-right-handed subjects.

The capacity of normal human Ss to match abstract shapes across the cerebral hemispheres was studied as a function of exposure duration. A general right hemisphere superiority was found, and in the conditions where one stimulus was presented to each hemisphere, the order of stimuli (to the right or left hemisphere first) did not affect performance. Decreasing stimulus exposure was shown to interact with hemisphere differences. An overall superiority of non-right-handed subjects was found, although their pattern of results did not differ from right-handed Ss, and it is argued that this supports the hypothesis that the cerebral organisation of the non-right-hander is more diffuse in its general organisational structure.     

Transfer between the cerebral hemisphere in human learning

Meaningless paired-associate duograms were presented with one member directed to each cerebral hemisphere, and the test stimulus directed to either the same or different hemisphere as that of original presentation. No differences were found between these conditions or between left- or right-handed subjects. In association with other experimental work on interhemispheric learning effects, it can be concluded that presentation to the left or to both hemispheres leads to bilateral learning, while presentation to the right hemisphere alone results only in learning in that hemisphere.     

Reply to Fishbein and Ajzen

The purpose of the Songer-Nocks study was clarified, and the relationship of the predictions and results to the theoretical formulations of Fishbein and Ajzen were discussed. Results from the model-testing procedure originally performed with behavior as the criterion were presented using behavioral intention as the criterion. The findings revealed that the interactive effect of prior experience with attitude toward the act in predicting behavioral intention was not significant, and that the interactive effect of motivational set with normative belief in predicting behavioral intention was significant. In addition, a regression analysis of the BI-B relationship was performed in which the design variables were incorporated as predictors. Results showed that the inclusion of design variables aided the prediction of behavior significantly. Songer-Nocks' data were interpreted as being consistent with the overall Fishbein formulation, but as suggesting certain potentially specifiable limitations in predicting actual behavior from attitudinal components.     

Hemispheric control of hand function in the human brain

The cerebral dominance argument holds that the hand is representative of the functions of the hemisphere by which it is controlled. An influx of visual information to that hemisphere should result in a disruption of simultaneous performance by the hand. This view was tested by requiring the subject to perform a sorting task with one hand whilst at the same time performing a visual task on which information was projected either to the hemisphere relating to hand performance or to its opposite member. Visual information projected to the same hemisphere does not interfere with the performance of the hand. This suggests that control of hand function can be switched from one hemisphere to the other as the need arises.