Children's and adults' understanding of illness: evidence in support of a coexistence model

The authors investigated three seemingly contradictory views of the conception of illness: (a) the traditional, developmental "naive child" view; (b) a more contemporary, "sophisticated child" outlook; and (c) a largely social-psychological, "irrational adult" approach, They concluded that participants had a variety of views of the conception of illness and that they used different views in different experimental contexts. They found that, under certain conditions, children appeared to have sophisticated beliefs; under other conditions, children, and even adults, showed signs of folkloric and immanent justice reasoning. They also found that, with advancing grade level, children increasingly recognized psychological contributors to the cause of illness.     

Neural substrates of word generation during stroke recovery: the influence of cortical hypoperfusion

Several studies have demonstrated reorganization of cognitive and motor function caused by stroke. This study examined the influence of hypoperfused brain regions, in addition to the area of the infarct itself, on reorganization of the cognitive processes underlying word generation in stroke patients. In addition, we also sought to determine the influence of hypoperfusion on the blood oxygen level dependent/(BOLD) effect. Subjects with left and right subacute or chronic subcortical strokes, along with normal controls, were imaged while performing a verbal fluency task (word generation). The study population included six normal subject and six stroke patients with subcortical infarcts and cortical hypoperfusion in the middle cerebral artery territory who had recovered or improved markedly in word fluency. While normal subjects displayed a left-lateralized fronto-temporo-parietal and bilateral cingulo-striatal-thalamic-cerebellar network, the activation pattern of stroke patients was determined both by the hypoperfused regions and infarcted areas of the brain. Specifically, patients showed diminished BOLD effect in the cortical regions that were hypoperfused, even though their infarcts were subcortical, and showed increased BOLD effect in the homologous regions of the normal hemisphere. This finding raises the possibility that cortical hypoperfusion in the absence of infarct can cause shift of language functions to the opposite, intact hemisphere. However, reduced BOLD effect in the task relative to rest was found in hypoperfused regions in two patients, raising the possibility that regional function persisted, even though vascular reactivity was impaired. Results illustrate the complexities of functional imaging studies of recovery in patients with vascular lesions.     

This cat has nine lives? Children's memory for genericity in language

Generic noun phrases ("Birds lay eggs") are important for expressing knowledge about abstract kinds. The authors hypothesized that genericity would be part of gist memory, such that young children would appropriately recall whether sentences were presented as generic or specific. In 4 experiments, preschoolers and college students (N = 280) heard a series of sentences in either generic form (e.g., "Bears climb trees") or specific form (e.g., "This bear climbs trees") and were asked to recall the sentences following a 4-min distractor task. Participants in all age groups correctly distinguished between generic and specific noun phrases (NPs) in their recall, even when forgetting the details of the NP form. Memory for predicate content (e.g., "climb trees") was largely unaffected by genericity, although memory for category labels (e.g., "bear") was at times better for those who heard sentences with generic wording. Overall, these results suggest that generic form is maintained in long-term memory even for young children and thus may serve as the foundation for constructing knowledge about kinds.     

Religions in a Secular World

The task of astrotheology is to speculate on the theological, cultural, and ethical implications of space exploration, especially the exploration of astrobiologists into the (1) origin of life; (2) a second genesis of life; and (3) expansion of life beyond earth. When assumptions within the field of astrobiology are examined, we find that the Darwinian model of evolutionary development is imaginatively projected onto extrasolar planets; and this model includes a built-in doctrine of progress. The assumption of progress within evolution permits astrobiologists to look forward to contact with an extraterrestrial civilization that is more intelligent and more advanced than that on earth. Such an extraterrestrial civilization will allegedly have an advanced science that can save earth from its primitive and under-evolved propensity for violence. However, no empirical evidence for a more highly evolved or advanced civilization currently exists, despite these beliefs. The theologian labels the constellation of scientific assumptions here the “ETI myth.” Astrotheology celebrates hard-nosed empirical science and even encourages space exploration; but the mythical assumptions regarding the doctrine of progress within evolution are here given critical analysis.     

School Counselors,Multiple Student Deaths,and Grief: A Narrative Inquiry

A team of 5 school counselors were interviewed to learn how they professionally and personally experienced the deaths of multiple students in 1 year in their school while attending to the needs of the school community. By using narrative inquiry, 5 themes emerged from the analysis: gravity of the losses, logistics of care, personal vs. professional conflicts, increased student cohesion, and efficacy. Recommendations for counselor preparation, research, and counseling practice are offered.     

Science and Religion in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract. To achieve peace on our planet we must bridge the gap not only between science and religion but also among faith traditions. Accepting the doctrine of multiple paths can reduce interreligious tensions. Every view of the Divine is partial, every faith system rests upon supreme spiritual experiences, and each one provides fulfillment in the yearning to connect with the Cosmic Mystery.     

The role of chronic hypoxia in the development of neurocognitive abnormalities in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is the most common pulmonary morbidity in preterm infants and is associated with chronic hypoxia. Animal studies have demonstrated structural, neurochemical and functional alterations due to chronic hypoxia in the developing brain. Long-term impairments in visual-motor, gross and fine motor, articulation, reading, mathematics, spatial memory and attention skills are prevalent in survivors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and impairments appear to correlate with the severity of hypoxia. However, due to the simultaneous occurrence of multiple neurodevelopmental risk factors, a primary or potentiating role for chronic hypoxia in these impairments has yet to be conclusively established.