Cognitive Function In Children Research Articles

Cognitive screening for children: Piloting a new battery of interactive games in 4- to 8-year-old children

Cognitive screening at the preschool age can be helpful in the early detection of possible difficulties before the start of school attendance as problems during schooling can have profound consequences. While interactive tools are still limited for the Czech population, tools used for cognitive screening at a younger age often consist of traditional pen-and-paper methods. Such examinations can be very demanding and time-consuming. This pilot study therefore focuses on the usability testing of a newly developed battery of interactive games used for the screening of selected cognitive functions in children aged four to eight in a less demanding and more attractive way. The battery consists of three interactive games testing (1) attention (selective attention), (2) executive functions (inhibitory control), (3) memory (episodic-like memory). The study sample included 24 participants of preschool or younger school age, ranging from 4 to 8 years old, girls = 12 (50%). The analyses also concentrated on the comparison of the newly designed screening tool with selected traditional test methods. The results suggest that the newly developed battery is feasible, and for children, it is entertaining and attractive. The designed cognitive battery is a promising tool for the screening of cognitive functions in younger school-age children.

Cognitive benefits of higher cardiorespiratory fitness in preadolescent children are associated with increased connectivity within the cingulo-opercular network

Higher cardiorespiratory fitness has been associated with improved cognitive control in preadolescent children, with various studies highlighting related brain health benefits. This cross-sectional study aimed to provide novel insights into the fitness-cognition relationship by investigating task-related changes in effective connectivity within two brain networks involved in cognitive control: the cingulo-opercular and fronto-parietal networks. Twenty-four higher-fit and twenty-four lower-fit preadolescent children completed a modified flanker task that modulated inhibitory control demand while their EEG and task performance were concurrently recorded. Effective connectivity for correct trials in the theta band was estimated using directed transfer function. The results indicate that children with higher fitness levels demonstrated greater connectivity in specific directions within the cingulo-opercular network (average effect size, d = 0.72). Brain-behavior correlations demonstrated a positive association between the majority of these connections and general task accuracy, which was also higher in higher fit children (average correlation coefficient, ρ = 0.34). The findings further support a positive relationship between fitness and cognitive performance in children. EEG findings offer novel insights into the potential brain mechanisms underlying the fitness-cognition relationship. The study suggests that increased task-related connectivity within the cingulo-opercular network may mediate the cognitive benefits associated with higher fitness levels in preadolescent children.

Development of cognitive performance in children before and after surgical treatment of pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy

Development of cognitive performance in children before and after surgical treatment of pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy

Trajectories of childhood bullying behaviors and conduct problems: Associations with cognitive functioning in a nationally representative cohort study.

Bullying behaviors and conduct problems are two forms of antisocial behavior that frequently co-occur in childhood. However, it remains unclear whether their developmental trajectories are distinct and the extent to which different aspects of cognitive functioning account for their development. We aimed to disentangle the developmental trajectories of bullying behaviors and conduct problems, test their interrelations across childhood, and assess associations with children's early cognitive functioning (executive functions, intelligent quotient [IQ], and theory of mind). Participants included 2,232 children from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study. We performed dual group-based trajectory modeling on combined parent and teacher reports of children's bullying behaviors and conduct problems at 5, 7, 10, and 12 years. We assessed associations with age 5 cognitive functioning using regression analyses. We identified five developmental trajectories for bullying behaviors and four for conduct problems. The developmental course of both behaviors was interrelated most strongly among those with high levels. A subgroup of children was likely to transition from conduct problems to bullying behaviors as they got older. Lower IQ was associated with both antisocial behavior trajectories, whereas lower theory of mind was only associated with conduct problems trajectories. The developmental course of bullying behaviors and conduct problems is distinct but linked across childhood. Interventions targeting bullying behaviors or conduct problems could benefit from more integration and should take into account children's cognitive functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Identifying developmental changes in functional brain connectivity associated with cognitive functioning in children and adolescents with ADHD

Youth diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often show deficits in various measures of higher-level cognition, such as, executive functioning. Poorer cognitive functioning in children with ADHD has been associated with differences in functional connectivity across the brain. However, little is known about the developmental changes to the brain’s functional properties linked to different cognitive abilities in this cohort. To characterize these changes, we analyzed fMRI data (ADHD = 373, NT = 106) collected while youth between the ages of 6 and 16 watched a short movie-clip. We applied machine learning models to identify patterns of network connectivity in response to movie-watching that differentially predict cognitive abilities in our cohort. Using out-of-sample cross validation, our models successfully predicted IQ, visual spatial, verbal comprehension, and fluid reasoning in children (ages 6 – 11), but not in adolescents with ADHD (ages 12–16). Connections with the default mode, memory retrieval, and dorsal attention were driving prediction during early and middle childhood, but connections with the somatomotor, cingulo-opercular, and frontoparietal networks were more important in middle childhood. This work demonstrated that machine learning approaches can identify distinct functional connectivity profiles associated with cognitive abilities at different developmental stages in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Effect of oxidative stress on cognitive functions in children with obesity

Effect of oxidative stress on cognitive functions in children with obesity

Association of chronotype with language and episodic memory processing in children: implications for brain structure.

Chronotype refers to individual preference in circadian cycles and is associated with psychiatric problems. It is mainly classified into early (those who prefer to be active in the morning and sleep and wake up early) and late (those who prefer to be active in the evening and sleep and wake up late) chronotypes. Although previous research has demonstrated associations between chronotype and cognitive function and brain structure in adults, little is known regarding these associations in children. Here, we aimed to investigate the relationship between chronotype and cognitive function in children. Moreover, based on the significant association between chronotype and specific cognitive functions, we extracted regions-of-interest (ROI) and examined the association between chronotype and ROI volumes. Data from 4,493 children (mean age of 143.06 months) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study were obtained, wherein chronotype (mid-sleep time on free days corrected for sleep debt on school days) was assessed by the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Subsequently, the associations between chronotype, cognitive function, and ROI volumes were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models. Behaviorally, chronotype was negatively associated with vocabulary knowledge, reading skills, and episodic memory performance. Based on these associations, the ROI analysis focused on language-related and episodic memory-related areas revealed a negative association between chronotype and left precentral gyrus and right posterior cingulate cortex volumes. Furthermore, the precentral gyrus volume was positively associated with vocabulary knowledge and reading skills, while the posterior cingulate cortex volume was positively associated with episodic memory performance. These results suggest that children with late chronotype have lower language comprehension and episodic memory and smaller brain volumes in the left precentral gyrus and right posterior cingulate cortex associated with these cognitive functions.

EEG alpha band functional brain network correlates of cognitive performance in children after perinatal stroke

Mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment after perinatal stroke could be explained through brain network alterations. With aim to explore this connection, we conducted a matched test-control study to find a correlation between functional brain network properties and cognitive functions in children after perinatal stroke. First, we analyzed resting-state functional connectomes in the alpha frequency band from a 64-channel resting state EEG in 24 children with a history of perinatal stroke (12 with neonatal arterial ischemic stroke and 12 with neonatal hemorrhagic stroke) and compared them to the functional connectomes of 24 healthy controls. Next, all participants underwent cognitive evaluation. We analyzed the differences in functional brain network properties and cognitive abilities between groups and studied the correlation between network characteristics and specific cognitive functions. Functional brain networks after perinatal stroke had lower modularity, higher clustering coefficient, higher interhemispheric strength, higher characteristic path length and higher small world index. Modularity correlated positively with the IQ and processing speed, while clustering coefficient correlated negatively with IQ. Graph metrics, reflecting network segregation (clustering coefficient and small world index) correlated positively with a tendency to impulsive decision making, which also correlated positively with graph metrics, reflecting stronger functional connectivity (characteristic path length and interhemispheric strength). Our study suggests that specific cognitive functions correlate with different brain network properties and that functional network characteristics after perinatal stroke reflect poorer cognitive functioning.

Разработка методик на основе айтрекинга для диагностики когнитивных функций у детей

<p style="text-align: justify;">The development of eye-movement-based diagnostic techniques is especially relevant for assessing cognitive function in children who are unable to provide a verbal or motor response due to their age or developmental disabilities. For these children, the use of objective methods for assessing cognitive function based on eye-tracking can be a useful diagnostic tool to complement traditional behavioural questionnaires and scales. In addition, such diagnostic techniques can be used to quickly screen for problems in the development of cognitive functions. In this article, we review researches on the development of such techniques. Studies show that eye-tracking-based techniques can assess attention, receptive speech, especially in young children, and provide screening assessments of intelligence in children with developmental delays. The data obtained using eye-tracking techniques generally significantly correlate with those obtained using traditional behavioural techniques, indicating that further development of such techniques is promising. The application of machine learning methods may help to create simpler and more effective screening techniques for assessing cognitive processes based on the analysis of eye movement data.</p>

Well controlled maternal inflammatory bowel disease does not increase the risk of abnormal neurocognitive outcome screening in offspring

BackgroundExposure to maternal inflammation is associated with an increased risk of neurocognitive and developmental disorders in offspring. Early diagnosis and intervention improves childhood motor and cognitive functioning. Neonatal cerebral MRI and remote app-based generalised movement assessments (GMAs) are both predictive of adverse neurocognitive outcomes but have only been used in infants at significantly increased risk for these outcomes, rather than following in utero exposure to maternal inflammatory disorders. MethodsPregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease were assessed clinically and biochemically in each trimester of pregnancy in this single centre prospective study. Neonatal cerebral MRIs were performed at 6–12 weeks post-corrected term. Two GMA videos were filmed using the ‘BabyMoves’ app from 12 to 16 weeks of age. MRIs and GMAs were assessed by a blinded highly qualified practitioner using validated scoring systems. Results40/53 of invited maternal-infant dyads were recruited. C-reactive protein was elevated antenatally in less than 13%. 5/37 neonatal MRIs had incidental or obstetric trauma related gross anatomical abnormalities, with none abnormal on validated gross abnormality scoring. 3/35 GMAs were abnormal, with one GMA abnormality being clinically significant. Of those with abnormal GMAs, 2/3 were in exposed to severely active IBD in-utero. ConclusionNeonatal cerebral MRI and GMA for neurocognitive screening is feasible in the setting of maternal inflammatory bowel disease, where the risk of cerebral palsy is poorly defined and thus burdensome screening interventions are less appealing to parents. Larger studies are required to stratify adverse neurocognitive outcome risk in infants born to women with maternal inflammatory disorders, but these data are reassuring for women with IBD in remission antenatally.

Cognitive Development in a Bilingual Environment: To Explore the Effect of L1 and L2 use on Early Cognitive Performance in Children

Cognitive Development in a Bilingual Environment: To Explore the Effect of L1 and L2 use on Early Cognitive Performance in Children

EFFECTS OF WARM, COOL, AND NEUTRAL COLORS ON SHORT TERM MEMORY IN YOUNG CHILDREN

This study investigates the impact of different color stimuli (neutral, warm, and cool) on short-term memory retention in children aged 9-10. A sample of 50 children was tested under varying color conditions, where participants viewed slides with different colored backgrounds (black for neutral, red for warm, and purple for cool) and recalled the words presented. The purpose of the research was to determine how these color conditions affect memory retention. Findings revealed that cool colors, particularly purple, significantly enhance memory retention more effectively than warm (red) and neutral (black) colors. These results suggest that incorporating cool colors into educational materials and environments can optimize learning by improving short-term memory retention. This study highlights the importance of considering environmental factors, such as color, in designing educational strategies and classroom settings to support cognitive development. The principal results indicate that specific color stimuli can positively influence cognitive functions in children, providing empirical insights for educators and curriculum developers. Major conclusions from this research include the potential benefits of using cool colors like purple in educational contexts to enhance memory performance and learning outcomes. Future research should explore the impact of various sensory stimuli on cognitive processes across different developmental stages to further refine educational practices. By understanding the relationship between color and memory, this study contributes to the development of targeted interventions aimed at improving cognitive performance and educational experiences for children.

Frontoparietal Response to Working Memory Load Mediates the Association between Sleep Duration and Cognitive Function in Children.

Lack of sleep has been found to be associated with cognitive impairment in children, yet the neural mechanism underlying this relationship remains poorly understood. To address this issue, this study utilized the data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (n = 4930, aged 9-10), involving their sleep assessments, cognitive measures, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during an emotional n-back task. Using partial correlations analysis, we found that the out-of-scanner cognitive performance was positively correlated with sleep duration. Additionally, the activation of regions of interest (ROIs) in frontal and parietal cortices for the 2-back versus 0-back contrast was positively correlated with both sleep duration and cognitive performance. Mediation analysis revealed that this activation significantly mediated the relationship between sleep duration and cognitive function at both individual ROI level and network level. After performing analyses separately for different sexes, it was revealed that the mediation effect of the task-related activation was present in girls (n = 2546). These findings suggest that short sleep duration may lead to deficit in cognitive function of children, particularly in girls, through the modulation of frontoparietal activation during working memory load.

Types and Predictors of Service use Among Young Children Recommended to Receive Intensive Services After Initial Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis.

Intensive services are recommended for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Limited research on service receipt in states with mandated ASD-specific service coverage suggests that it remains low, and factors associated with intensity are unclear. Participants were 206 children from the Boston Outcomes of Autism in Toddlers study living in states with autism mandates, diagnosed with ASD through a multidisciplinary consultation at 12-36 months, and recommended to receive at least 20h of services weekly. Outcome measures were caregiver-reported receipt of total and ASD-specific services within 18 months of ASD diagnosis. Separate negative binomial regression models were run for each outcome, with covariates of child adaptive and cognitive functioning, age, gender, household income, primary insurance, and maternal educational level. The sample was 83% male with a mean age of 24.5 months at ASD diagnosis. Mean Vineland adaptive behavior composite and Bayley cognitive standard scores were 73 and 81, respectively. 90% of children received ASD-specific services. The median intensities for total and ASD-specific services were 22 and 17h weekly respectively, with 44% of the participants receiving at least 20h of ASD-specific services weekly. Adjusted regression models found significant associations between lower adaptive scores and increased total and ASD-specific service receipt. Children in insurance-mandated states received a high intensity of intervention after clinical ASD diagnosis. Lower child adaptive functioning was associated with increased service receipt, while socioeconomic factors were not associated. Additional research in other regions and mandate-ineligible populations is needed.

The Impact of Biophilic Design on Cognitive Map Performance: A Case Study on Girls Primary Public Schools in Bahrain

Previous studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between biophilic design strategies and cognitivefunction. However, similar effects on primary schools, the main space influencing children's spatial perception,have yet to be explored. The study adopts qualitative and quantitative approaches to investigate the impact ofbiophilic design attributes on children's cognitive performance, aiming to improve wayfinding strategies in primaryschools in Bahrain. While the interviews with boys and girls from different schools assisted in defining the studyarea and children's gender, an expert in school design shed light on wayfinding parameters used in Bahrain. Thecognitive map drawings collected from 67 girls between 9 and 11 allowed the study to determine thecharacteristics that influence girls' spatial perception. The study findings demonstrate the potential of eachbiophilic design attribute as an opportunity to design future primary schools in Bahrain that provide healthy andsustainable spaces for children to thrive and develop.

THE POTENTIAL OF PATIN FISH (Pangasius hypophthalmus) PROTEIN CONCENTRATE IN ADDRESSING OF STUNTING

Background: Stunting has become a health problem in developing countries such as Indonesia. This can provide an effect on body composition, decreasing albumin levels and immunity status. Patin fish is well-known to have a high level of protein concentration and has a positive-effect on stunting. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the nutrient compound of Patin fish protein concentrate. Methods: The research method used is experimental laboratories. The test was carried out by Association of Official Agricultural Chemists method (AOAC) 2012. Results: The results showed that Patin Fish Protein Concentrate have high protein contain. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to gather scientific evidence regarding the effects of height protein intake on improving nutritional status, linear growth, and health outcomes in children with stunting. The literature review findings indicate that Patin Fish protein concentrate holds promise as a good protein source in enhancing the nutritional status and growth of stunting children. Additionally, Patin Fish protein concentrate may provide supplementary benefits in increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids crucial for brain development and cognitive function in children. Conclusion: However, further experimental research is warranted to validate the findings of this literature review and assess the potential of Patin Fish protein concentrate in nutritional intervention programs for effectively addressing stunting.

Evaluation of mental performance and cognitive functions of children and adolescents diagnosed with radiologically isolated syndrome

BackgroundRadiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) is a condition characterized by asymptomatic, incidentally detected demyelinating plaques in the CNS in a patient without typical clinical findings of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to compare the mental status and cognitive functions of child and adolescent RIS cases with healthy controls and to investigate the relationship between psychometric test results and the demyelinating lesion characteristics. MethodsThe mental status and cognitive functions of 12 RIS cases and 12 healthy controls were compared. Semi-structured interviews, behavioral evaluations, depression and anxiety scales, neuropsychological test battery, and an intelligence test were applied for the evaluation of mental state and cognitive functions. These results were compared with the number and localization of demyelinating lesions. ResultsSustained attention, visual-motor coordination, short-term memory skills, and ability to use visual-spatial information were found worse in the RIS group. There was no correlation between mental state and cognitive functions, and the number and localization of demyelinating lesions. ConclusionOur study showed that pediatric RIS cases may have worse cognitive performance than healthy controls, but no correlation was found between the number and location of demyelinating lesions and psychiatric findings. Although it is controversial whether psychiatric disorders and cognitive disabilities have predictive value in terms of MS conversion in pediatric RIS cases, these subjects were not included in the scope of this study.

Differences in early life cognitive function explain the association between low education and early dementia risk.

Major initiatives are currently attempting to prevent dementia by targeting modifiable risk factors. Low education is frequently pointed to as a potential key factor, due to its robust relationship with dementia risk. Impact of education is notoriously difficult to assess, however, because of associations with multiple other risk and protective factors, and large population-representative samples are required to tease the relationships apart. Here, we studied 207,814 Norwegian men born between 1950 and 1959 who underwent compulsory cognitive testing during military conscription as young adults, to systematically test associations of education, cognition, and other potentially important factors. While low education was associated with increased risk for dementia diagnosis (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.37, CI: 1.17-1.60), this association was fully explained by earlier cognitive test scores (HR = 1.08, CI: .91-1.28). In contrast, low cognitive score was associated with double risk of later dementia diagnosis, even when taking education into account (HR = 2.00, CI: 1.65-2.42). This relationship survived controlling for early-life socioeconomic status and was replicated within pairs of brothers. The latter finding suggests that genetic and environmental factors shared within families, such as common genetics, parental education, childhood socioeconomic status, or other shared experiences, cannot account for the association. Rather, independent, non-familial factors are more important. In contrast, within-family factors accounted for the relationship between low education and diagnosis risk. In conclusion, implementing measures to increase cognitive function in childhood and adolescence appears to be a more promising strategy for reducing dementia burden.

Associations of Physical Fitness with Cognitive Performance in Children Aged 7–12 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

Associations of Physical Fitness with Cognitive Performance in Children Aged 7–12 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

Executive function and spatial abilities in physically active children: an explorative study

BackgroundRegular physical activity has consistently shown promise in improving cognitive functioning among children. However, there is a shortage of comprehensive studies that delve into these benefits across various cognitive domains. This preliminary investigation aimed to discern potential disparities in cognitive performance between active and sedentary children, with a specific focus on inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and visuo-spatial working memory abilities.MethodsThe study employed a cross-sectional design encompassing 26 children (mean age 9.53 ± 2.20 years), categorized into two groups: Active and Sedentary. Executive functions were assessed using the NEPSY-II, while visuo-spatial working memory abilities were evaluated through the table version of the Radial Arm Maze (table-RAM) task. All outputs were analyzed with One-way ANOVAS or Kruskal–Wallis Tests to assess differences between Active and Sedentary children in both executive functioning and visuo-spatial working memory processes.ResultsThe findings revealed that the Active group outperformed the sedentary group in inhibitory control (F1,23 = 4.99, p = 0.03*), cognitive flexibility (F1,23 = 5.77, p = 0.02*), spatial span (F1,23 = 4.40, p = 0.04*), and working memory errors (F1,23 = 8.59, p = 0.01**). Both spatial span and working memory errors are parameters closely associated with visuo-spatial working memory abilities.ConclusionsAlthough preliminary, these results offer evidence of a positive link between physical activity and cognitive functioning in children. This indicates the importance of promoting active behaviors, especially within educational environments.