Patient and Family Experiences and Opinions on Adding 22q11 Deletion Syndrome to the Newborn Screen

22q11 deletion syndrome (22qDS) has recently been proposed for addition to the newborn screening panel in Wisconsin and it seems likely that it may soon be considered in other states as well. Input from patients with 22qDS and their family was gathered from 21 phone interviews. Cardiac, palate, hypocalcemia, and multiple anomalies were common reasons for involved patients to be diagnosed, though age at diagnosis ranged from birth to adulthood. Many commented on their struggles with 22qDS, including worries about the future and the patient’s independence. In general, respondents favored newborn screening for 22qDS because it would help prevent some medical problems, increase access to services, explain existing problems, and identify mild cases. However, a minority expressed reservations, including concerns that it would disrupt bonding, could be too costly, and would not be useful for mild cases.     

The nature of inhibition in a working memory search task

Inhibition is one of the key processes that regulate working memory (WM) activity. The main research question concerned the nature of inhibition of highlighted information in WM. The study was designed to examine two competing hypotheses. The first assumed that inhibition is carried out by deletion of irrelevant information from the focus of attention (cognitive inhibition account). An alternative hypothesis assumed that it is the response to a correctly recognised stimulus that is inhibited (effortful response inhibition account). Two experiments with a spatial modification of the WM serial search task were conducted wherein two factors were manipulated: serial order of the items, and distance from the central fixation point. In both experiments, higher response time was correlated with a smaller distance from the fixation point. The inhibited items were recognised equally efficiently or better than the uninhibited items. The results support the effortful response inhibition account over the cognitive inhibition account.     

Response to “The luminous experience and the scientific method” by Oliver Nichelson

Acknowledging the cultural shaping of near-death experiences makes possible a deeper and more sophisticated appreciation of their meaning and validity.