In Hope’s Shadow: Assisted Reproductive Technology and Neonatal Intensive Care

While assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have helped countless men and women become parents there are births that cast a long shadow. This article looks at ART from the little described vantage point of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where newborn babies struggling to live meet their parents for the first time. Babies conceived through ART where more than one embryo is transferred are more likely to be multiples and multiple births are more frequently premature necessitating a NICU stay that can be long and arduous both for the infant and for the parents, often compounded with uncertain developmental outcomes. The technological salvation promised by ART is contrasted with the life and death realities of the NICU, including the despair, guilt and shame that NICU parents can feel. The complexities of how to counsel these hopeful prospective parents are discussed. Voice is given to the traumatic experience of these parents both in the NICU and then home.     

IQ and Scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) were administered to 217 Veterans Affairs (VA) Nursing Home patients, 104 of whom did not carry a diagnosis associated with brain impairment, and 113 who had a diagnosis associated with degenerative or cerebrovascular conditions. MMSE and IQ scores were significantly correlated in both groups, even controlling for the effects of education. It is suggested that although previous normative studies of the MMSE may provide good general clinical guidance, interpretation of “impaired” performance on the MMSE for those with IQ scores below 90 should be approached with caution. Average MMSE scores for Wechsler IQ classifications are provided.     

Cerebellar-Subcortical-Cortical Systems as Modulators of Cognitive Functions

Neuropsychology Review - Over the past few decades, research has established that the cerebellum is involved in executive functions; however, its specific role remains unclear. There are numerous...