Direct assessment of the cognitive correlates of attention deficit disorders with and without hyperactivity

The cognitive functioning of children identified as attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADD/H) was compared to that of children identified as attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity (ADD/WO). Based on information on symptoms supplied by teachers, 20 ADD/H and 15 ADD/ WO children were selected according to DSM-III criteria from a large elementaryschool learning disabilities and behavior disorders population. For comparison purposes, 16 normal children from regular classrooms were also selected. Children from all three groups were evaluated with a battery of cognitive tests. Intelligence test scores differentiated the two ADD groups, with the ADD/H children obtaining significantly lower Full Scale IQ scores than both ADD/WO and control children. In addition, ADD/H children obtained significantly lower Verbal IQ scores than ADD/WO children. Both ADD groups performed more poorly than controls on Spelling and Reading Achievement, and the ADD/WO group performed more poorly on Math Achievement. The two ADD groups took longer to complete six Stroop and rapid naming tasks than the control groups but did not differ among themselves. The ADD/WO group made more errors on a visual matching task than the controls, but neither ADD group differed from controls on the accuracy of the Stroop tasks, rapid naming tasks, measures of receptive and expressive language, visual-motor integration, or sustained visual attention. The differences between the two ADD groups were fewer than expected on the basis of previous research and are more global than specific.The assistance of John Junginger, Jason Walker, and Cynthia Jones at various stages of the project is gratefully acknowledged. Particular thanks are extended to the teachers and staff of Clarke County schools.     

An empirical investigation of the specificity and sensitivity of the automatic thoughts questionnaire and dysfunctional attitudes scale

Cognitive assessment of depression is not well advanced and the evidence for the validity and reliability of measures is incomplete. This study examined two cognitive assessments of depression-the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) and the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS). There were two major objectives of this study. The first objective was to examine the ability of these two measures of cognitions to discriminate depressive symptomatology within a variety of sample populations-university undergraduate students, medical and psychiatric outpatients, and acute psychiatric inpatients. The second objective was to examine the ability of the ATQ and DAS succesfully to classify depressed and nondepressed patients. The results of this study suggest that the ATQ is a sensitive and specific measure of depression. Nonspecificity to the ATQ, however, was demonstrated in the substance abuse disorder group and the personality disorder group. In contrast, the DAS, although correlated with depressive symptomatology, was not found to be specific to depression.Part of this project is supported by a Special Project Grant from the University of Queensland to Dr. Oei.     

隔区或皮质顶叶损毁对大鼠空间认知能力的影响及大鼠搜索策略差异的研究

本研究的目的是探讨隔区或皮质顶叶在大鼠空间认知加工中的作用。实验观察到隔区或皮质顶叶损毁大鼠Morris迷宫学习或记忆作业成绩显著低于控制组,并发现隔区损毁大鼠主要采用与皮质顶叶或控制组不同的“非国类”搜索策略。搜索策略的差异提示:隔区和皮质顶叶在大鼠图认知加工系统中处于不同的功能层次,隔区具有更重要的作用。     

独生与非独生儿童认知发展的比较研究(广州市)

为了研究中国独生子女政策可能造成的独生和非独生儿童的认知能力的差别,分别在广州七所小学一年级和五年级中选择了146名和171名独生与非独生儿童。用11项认知能力测验对这些儿童进行测查。一年级独生儿童在言语记忆和一般常识项目上的成绩优于非独生儿童。研究认为,一年级独生儿童在与一般认知能力有关的项目上具有优势。而五年级的独生儿童在认知作业成绩上,没有表现出显著性的优势。另外,独生男童在一般常识方面优于独生女童。作者用独生儿童受到较大的父母关注和投资来解释一年级独生对非独生儿童在认知方面的优势。随着儿童的自然成熟和学业教育,两者之间的差距会逐渐缩小,从而使五年级独生儿童未能在认知方面表现出明显的优势。     

Preconceptional family health evaluation: A regional education program for family planning clients and health professionals

The Preconceptional Family Health Evaluation Program was a regional project developed and funded for 2 years by the New England Regional Genetics Group (NERGG) to educate family planning health professionals about genetics, and to offer family planning clients preconceptional identification of genetic and environmental exposure risks. To meet these goals, genetic education was provided on a regional basis to 45 family planning professionals. A self-administered family health risk questionnaire adaptable to individual family planning settings was developed. Five hundred and twenty-nine family planning clients voluntarily completed the questionnaire. Cigarette smoking (35%) and alcohol use (57%) were two major categories of risks identified. The Preconceptional Family Health Evaluation Program was well received by all participants and provided an effective means for regional education of family planning health professionals. As a result of the program, state program planners, clinical genetics services, and family planning health professionals developed a strong relationship that will serve future educational and genetic risk screening efforts.     

额区脑波年老化特点及其与某些认知能力的相关性

对１２０名中老年被试（４６－８０岁）,完成双额脑波年老化特点０及其与某些认知能力相关性的研究。认知能力测验共１２项作业,包括４项作业速度和１０项作业成绩共１４项指标。结果表明：（１）双额脑波α峰频率随年老低移,α功率随年老有增加趋势;（２）年老过程３项作业速度与双额α峰频率相关性显著,但仅“图象自由回忆”成绩与双额α峰频率及右额α功率相关性显著。     

规则多边图形的离散度与图形信号认知绩效的关系

用实验方法研究规则多边图形的离散度与图形信号认知绩效的关系。实验的自变量是图形的离散度参数,因变量是单位时间图形信号的视觉通道信息传递量。实验的刺激材料是２５个离散度为０．３～０．７的规则多边图形。刺激材料的呈现与被试的反应记录都由计算机控制。结果表明：离散度适中（０．５左右）及偏小的图形信号认知绩效较高,离散度从０．５增大到０．６,认知绩效迅速下降,离散度继续增大,认知绩效仍有下降,但趋势平缓。     

Acceleration model in the heterogeneous case of the general graded response model

A new model, called acceleration model, is proposed in the framework of the heterogenous case of the graded response model, based on processing functions defined for a finite or enumerable number of steps. The model is expected to be useful in cognitive assessment, as well as in more traditional areas of application of latent trait models. Criteria for evaluating models are proposed, and soundness and robustness of the acceleration model are discussed. Graded response models based on individual choice behavior are also discussed, and criticisms on model selection in terms of fitnesses of models to the data are also given.This research was supported by the Office of Naval Research (N00014-90-J-1456).     

Preferential looking: A sudden shift in visual fixation pattern at 32 months of age

Observations of eye movements of young children in a modified preferential looking task suggest a change in the visual looking pattern taking place during a very brief time between 32 and 33 months of age. In the younger children, a grating stimulus elicited eye movements towards the target followed by a few seconds of focused attention; in the older children a visual avoidance behavior was observed where subjects looked consistently in the opposite direction of the target. An analysis of video recordings suggests that this avoidance pattern was a composite of a very brief initial target-directed eyemovement which was quickly arrested, and followed by eye movements in the opposite direction, initiating a search of the visual scene.     

Selective information processing and schematic content related to eating behavior

An adaptation of the Stroop color-naming task was used to investigate selective information processing related to eating behavior in 90 undergraduate women. This study differed from previous studies by (a) treating eating behavior as a continuous variable and (b) looking at five separate categories of words including color, neutral, food, body shape, and other emotionally salient words. We did not find a strong pattern of relation between the Stroop task and eating and body image measures. Results suggest that in a nonclinical population, direct methods of accessing cognitions related to eating may be more fruitful than indirect measures.