The Norwegian translation of the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity

This paper reviews the development of the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity and then examines the psychometric properties of the Norwegian translation of this instrument among a sample of 479 young people between the ages of 11 and 18 years attending secondary school. The data support the reliability of this instrument and commend it for further validation studies and for wider general use among young people in Norway.     

Marked Retrograde and Anterograde Amnesia of a Visual Discrimination Task in Rats with Selective Lesions of the Perirhinal Cortex

Damage to the temporal cortex (TC), the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC), or their interconnections has disruptive effects on visual memory. The fiber connections between TC and LEC are relayed in the perirhinal cortex (PC) or in the adjacent white matter of PC. PC seems to make up a particularly important structure for mnemonic processing. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether selective PC lesions might affect retroactive or proactive memory, since TC/LEC transections can cause both retrograde and anterograde amnesia. The results show that both PC and TC/LEC lesions impair retroactive memory to similar degrees (Experiment 1). However, PC lesions yielded a slightly stronger impairment of both acquisition and retention in the proactive paradigm than TC/LEC lesions (Experiment 2). These findings give support to the notion that PC plays an important role in formation of memory.     

Mental health in infants with esophageal atresia

Chronic somatic illness in infancy may challenge the development of mental health and impinge the infant's capability to form close interpersonal relationships. Esophageal atresia (EA) is a congenital anomaly requiring neonatal surgery, medical aftertreatment, and extended hospitalization. The aim of the study was to assess mental health and to find prognostic factors for mental health among infants with EA. Thirty‐nine infants treated consecutively during 2000 to 2003 and their mothers were included. Infant mental health was assessed by Diagnostic Classification: 0–3 (Zero to Three, 1994). Medical and environmental data were collected from medical records and semistructured interview with the mothers. Child development was assessed with the Bayley scales, second edition (N. Bayley, 1993). Maternal psychological distress, anxiety, and child temperament were assessed by self‐report questionnaires: the General Health Questionnaire, 30‐item version (D. Goldberg & P. Williams, 1988); the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (C.D. Spielberger, R. Gorsuch, & R. Lushene, 1970); and the Infant Behaviour Questionnaire (M.K. Rothbart, 1981). Thirty‐one percent of the infants with EA showed mental health disorders by 1 year of age. Prognostic factors predicting mental health were posttraumatic symptoms reported by mother, more than one operation, mechanical ventilation beyond 1 day, and moderate/severe chronic family strain. Relational trauma, vulnerable attachment, and impaired self‐development are highlighted as possible pathways for psychopathology. Children with EA are vulnerable to mental health disorders, and this study may help clinicians to identify children at risk.     

Personality,prayer and church attendance among a sample of 11 to 18 year olds in Norway

A series of recent studies has employed various measures of Eysenck's dimensional model of personality alongside questions of frequency of personal prayer and church attendance. The consensus from these studies suggests it is psychoticism, rather than extraversion or neuroticism that is fundamental to a greater frequency of personal prayer and church attendance. The present study tested the generalizability of these findings by examining the association between measure of personal prayer and church attendance and the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire among a sample of 479 11- to 18-year-old Norwegian school children. For the total sample a significant association was found between a greater frequency of both personal prayer and church attendance and lower psychoticism scores. These findings are consistent with previous research and with Eysenck's theory regarding individual differences in social attitudes.     

Association between brain activation (fMRI), cognition and school performance in extremely preterm and term born children

The purpose of the study was to investigate a possible association between brain activation in functional magnetic resonance imaging scans, cognition and school performance in extremely preterm children and term born controls. Twenty eight preterm and 28 term born children were scanned while performing a working memory/selective attention task, and school results from national standardized tests were collected. Brain activation maps reflected difference in cognitive skills but not in school performance. Differences in brain activation were found between children born preterm and at term, and between high and low performers in cognitive tests. However, the differences were located in different brain areas. The implication may be that lack of cognitive skills does not alone explain low performance due to prematurity.