Convergent cortical representation of semantic processing in bilinguals

This study examined whether semantic processes in two languages (English and Spanish) are mediated by a common neural system in fluent bilinguals who acquired their second language years after acquiring their first language. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed while bilingual participants made semantic and nonsemantic decisions about words in Spanish and English. There was greater activation for semantic relative to nonsemantic decisions in left and right frontal regions, with greater left frontal activation. The locations of activations were similar for both languages, and no differences were found when semantic decisions for English and Spanish words were compared directly. These results demonstrate a shared frontal lobe system for semantic analysis of the languages and are consistent with cognitive research on bilingualism indicating that the two languages of a bilingual person access a common semantic system.     

Pattern of Neuropsychological Deficit at Age Five Years Following Neonatal Unilateral Brain Injury

The pattern of language deficit following left-hemisphere brain injury and visual/spatial deficit following right-hemisphere injury in an adult or older child is well recognized, but has been inconsistently reported following presumed neonatal brain injury. Our prospective study of 24 children at age 5 with documented neonatal unilateral brain injury lends support to the theory of hemisphere specialization at the time of birth. Twelve children who had unilateral left-hemisphere lesion were compared to 12 children with unilateral right-hemisphere lesion of similar timing and severity. Relative visual/spatial deficit following right-hemisphere lesion and receptive language deficit following left-hemisphere lesion were identified. Lateralized measures of grip strength, fine motor speed, and fine motor dexterity were not significantly different between the groups for either hand in this nonhemiparetic study sample. Only one child with a left-hemisphere lesion was left-handed, and only one child (right-lesion) had a hemiparesis.     

Actual Existence, Identity and Ontological Priority

The paper first distinguishes ontological priority from epistemological priority and unilateral ontic dependence. Then explications of ontological priority are offered in terms of the reducibility of the actual existence or identity of entities in one ontological category to the actual existence or identity of entities in another. These explications lead to incompatible orders of ontological priority for individuals, properties of individuals and states of affairs. Common to those orders is, however, that the primacy of the category of individuals is abandoned. This primacy is challenged in the paper also by epistemological arguments, and an onto-anthropological explanation is offered for the very common but false idea that individuals are ontological prior to all other kinds of entities. Finally ontological priority is discussed with respect to a fully specified system of ontological categories. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Results of EMG analysis using the Polish mini-computer ANOPS

During a study tour of the Neurological Clinic in Warsaw, the automatic EMG analysis procedure by means of the Polish computer ANOPS was tested, standard values worked out and their diagnostic information value tested on patients with neuromuscular diseases. To obtain normal values, leads from four muscles of each of 21 healthy persons were made and the electromyograms of each muscle described by five different parameters. For a differentiated neuromuscular diagnosis it is significant that the computer not only calculates the mean values of each EMG parameter but provides histograms from which further statistical indices and diagnostic information can be obtained.     

WAIS test-retest reliability for a clinical out-patient sample.

WAIS test-retest reliabilities were calculated for a clinical out-patient sample with testing intervals varying from 1 to 10 yr. There was no relationship between test-retest interval and the stability of test scores and the correlations between IQs were quite satisfactory (Full Scale IQ = .897, Verbal IQ = .906, Performance IQ = .876). Reliabilities remained high even when the sample was divided by diagnosis into organic, neurotic, personality disorder, and schizophrenic subgroups.     

Relationships between Hand Test variables and mental retardation: a confirmation and extension.

Eighty-one mentally retarded individuals, including a range of deficiencies (severe, moderate, and mild), were given the Hand Test in order to investigate the relationship between IQ and personality. There were significant correlations between Hand Test personality variables and IQ and different subgroup configurations were noted. Implications of the results are discussed.     

ALTERING SHOPPERS' SUPERMARKET PURCHASES TO FIT NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES: AN INTERACTIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM

This study reports the results of one effort to help supermarket shoppers alter food purchases to make purchases (and meals) that are lower in fat and higher in fiber. A prototype interactive information system using instructional video programs, feedback on purchases with specific goals for change, weekly programs, and the ability to track user interactions and intended purchases was evaluated. The major dependent measure was users' actual food purchases as derived from participants' highly detailed supermarket receipts. After a 5- to 7-week baseline phase, participants were randomly assigned to an experimental or control condition for the 7- to 8-week intervention phase. A follow-up phase began 5 to 8 weeks after participants completed the intervention and discontinued use of the system. The results indicated that experimental participants, when compared to control participants, decreased high fat purchases and increased high fiber purchases during intervention, with evidence for some maintenance of effect in follow-up. Plans for increasing the use and impact of the system are discussed.