A controlled group study of pedestrian-skill training for the mentally retarded

Pedestrian-skills training procedures were compared using 30 mentally retarded institutionalized adults. Ten subjects were randomly assigned to a no-treatment control group and ten subjects were assigned to each of two modes of pedestrian-skills training. The training methods included a form of individualized classroom training consisting of the practice of correct behavior using movable figures on a scale model of an intersection, vs independence training which emphasized self-evaluation of performance, social reinforcement, sign recognition and the utilization of a mock-up of an intersection on the hospital grounds. Data were taken on sign recognition, verbal and performance based responses to classroom training of pedestrian skills, performance of skills at an intersection on the hospital grounds, and performance of pedestrian skills in the community. Independence training proved to be significantly more effective than no treatment or classroom training. In addition, classroom training proved to be significantly more effective than no treatment at all.     

Brain perfusion and neuropsychological test scores: A correlation study in aphasics

In 26 patients suffering from the pure types of aphasias (11 total, 6 motoric, 5 sensory, and 5 amnesic), hemispheric and regional cerebral blood flow were measured and the flow values were correlated with psychological test scores including Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), Token Test, Benton Test, and word fluency tests. With respect to the flow values, an overall difference between the groups of aphasics was proved by analysis of variance [regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF): F(3,22) = 13.77, p < .001]. The location of mainly impaired brain perfusion was not always confined to the centers within the speech area expected in view of the clinical disturbance, but most patients had neurologic deficits in addition to their aphasia. High correlations were found between the rCBF values within ischemic foci and WAIS subtests, as well as Token Test and word fluency tests. The correlation coefficients calculated between hemispheric flow and the psychological data indicated, in many instances, the same dependency, but did not attain the high statistical significance obtained with the regional values. The results show dependencies of several aspects of mental function upon cerebral perfusion and provide information for possible mechanisms responsible for the disturbance of nonverbal intelligence in aphasics.     

The mean fundamental frequency in stutterers and nonstutterers during reading and spontaneous speech

Corresponding to the higher tension of muscles involved in speech production, a higher mean fundamental frequency should be expected in stutterers as compared to nonstutterers. It could be shown by the change scores of the mean fundamental frequency from reading to free conversation that stutterers tend to have a higher fundamental frequency during spontaneous speech.     

Iconic reading in a case of alexia without agraphia caused by a brain tumor: a tachistoscopic study

The lack of nonverbal reading comprehension in the clinical disconnection syndrome, alexia without agraphia, has been contradictory to the relative reading comprehension of the right hemisphere in split brains. We report a 39-year-old patient with verbal alexia without agraphia caused by brain tumor. On rapid tachistoscopic presentation of object names, he denied seeing anything but showed nonverbal reading comprehension by pointing to the corresponding objects. He lost this ability when he recovered ability to name individual letters of the object names. Our results suggest that even partial verbal reading such as the naming of single letters makes demonstration of iconic reading impossible and that total functional disconnection from verbalization, as initially noted in this case or in split brain studies, is necessary to show nonverbal reading comprehension.