Verbal Intelligence Research Articles

A study comparing intelligence scores of patients of hypermetropia and myopia in children

This study aimed to evaluate the association between intelligence and refractive error in children. Children with refractive error were consecutively enrolled from the outpatient eye disease clinic at the blinded for peer review. Seventy-six Turkish children were thirty-two female and Forty-four male, aged 6–16 years, participated in this study. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Revised was used for Intelligence quotient. Full Intelligence quotient score and verbal Intelligence quotient, picture completion, similarities comprehension, digit span subgroups in children with myopia were higher than that of hypermetropia group (p<0.05). Present study indicated cognitive ability in children with myopia is higher than that of hypermetropia children. The mechanisms of high cognitive ability in children with myopia should be described in further studies.

Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Computer-Aided Cognitive Training on Cognitive Function of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Dysgnosia.

Objective This study is aimed at researching transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) effects combined with computer-aided cognitive training (CACT) on cognitive function of children suffering from cerebral palsy and dysgnosia. Methods From December 2019 to October 2021, 86 children with cerebral palsy and dysgnosia who were treated at our hospital were recruited and assigned into observation and control groups (n = 43, each) using the random number table technique. The observation group received TMS combined with CACT (TMS+CACT), whereas the control group received only TMS. Chinese Wechsler Young Children Scale of Intelligence (C-WYCSI) and Chinese-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) were used to evaluate the intelligence level of the two groups; Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) of Fudan Chinese version was employed for evaluating the gross motor function of the two groups; a comparison was drawn among the two groups for the cerebral hemodynamic parameters before and after the treatment. Results For young children, the verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) scores at 6 and 12 weeks of treatment in the observation group were increased when compared to those in the control group (48.91 ± 3.70 vs. 47.32 ± 3.33, 54.25 ± 4.46 vs. 49.48 ± 3.36), and the observation group's performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) score at 12 weeks of treatment was higher as to that of the control group (65.38 ± 4.23 vs. 62.81 ± 4.74, all P < 0.05). For older age children, the observation group's VIQ and PIQ scores were greater than the control group's at 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, with statistical significance (63.80 ± 3.76 vs. 59.50 ± 5.32, 74.64 ± 12.04 vs. 65.08 ± 6.30; 63.91 ± 5.96 vs. 58.42 ± 3.70, 72.73 ± 5.06 vs. 66.42 ± 5.93; all P < 0.05). The GMFM-88 scale scores in both groups were increased after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. After treatment for 12 weeks, the observation group's A-E scores were greater than those of the control group (all P < 0.05). The peak systolic velocity (Vs), end-diastolic velocity (Vd), and mean velocity (Vm) at the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) in the observation group were dramatically increased than those in the control group (all P < 0.05) after 12 weeks of treatment. Conclusion TMS+CACT can effectively improve the intelligence level, cognitive ability, gross motor function, and cerebral blood flow of children suffering from cerebral palsy and intellectual disability.

The swerve: How childhood bilingualism changed from liability to benefit.

Early research that relied on standardized assessments of intelligence reported negative effects of bilingualism for children, but a study by Peal and Lambert (1962) reported better performance by bilingual than monolingual children on verbal and nonverbal intelligence tests. This outcome led to the view that bilingualism was a positive experience. However, subsequent research abandoned intelligence tests as the assessment tool and evaluated performance on cognitive tasks, making the research after Peal and Lambert qualitatively different from that before their landmark study, creating a disconnect between the new and earlier research. These newer cognitive studies showed both positive effects of bilingualism and no differences between language groups. But why were Peal and Lambert's results so different from previous studies that were also based on intelligence tests? The present study analyzed data from verbal and nonverbal intelligence tests that were collected from 6,077 participants across 79 studies in which intelligence tests were administered as background measures to various cognitive tasks. By including adults, the study extends the results across the life span. On standardized verbal tests, monolinguals outperformed bilinguals, but on nonverbal measures of intelligence, there were no differences between language groups. These results, which are different from those reported by Peal and Lambert, are used to reinterpret their findings in terms of the sociolinguistic, political, and cultural context in which the Peal and Lambert study was conducted and the relevance of those factors for all developmental research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Cognitive and Physiologic Reserve Independently Relate to Superior Neurocognitive Abilities in Adults Aging With HIV.

To investigate joint contributions of cognitive and physiologic reserve to neurocognitive SuperAging in older persons with HIV (PWH). Participants included 396 older PWH (age range: 50-69 years) who completed cross-sectional neuropsychological and neuromedical evaluations. Using published criteria, participants exhibiting global neurocognition within normative expectations of healthy 25-year-olds were classified as SuperAgers (SA; n = 57). Cognitively normal (CN; n = 172) and impaired (n = 167) participants were classified with chronological age-based norms. Cognitive reserve was operationalized with an estimate of premorbid verbal intelligence, and physiologic reserve was operationalized with a cumulative index of 39 general and HIV-specific health variables. Analysis of variance with confirmatory multinomial logistic regression examined linear and quadratic effects of cognitive and physiologic reserve on SA status, adjusting for chronological age, depression, and race/ethnicity. Univariably, SA exhibited significantly higher cognitive and physiologic reserve compared with CN and cognitively impaired ( d s ≥ 0.38, p s < 0.05). Both reserve factors independently predicted SA status in multinomial logistic regression; higher physiologic reserve predicted linear increases in odds of SA, and higher cognitive reserve predicted a quadratic "J-shaped" change in odds of SA compared with CN (ie, odds of SA > CN only above 35th percentile of cognitive reserve). Each reserve factor uniquely related to SA status, which supports the construct validity of our SA criteria and suggests cognitive and physiologic reserve reflect nonoverlapping pathways of neuroprotection in HIV. Incorporation of proxy markers of reserve in clinical practice may improve characterization of age-related cognitive risk and resilience among older PWH, even among PWH without overt neurocognitive impairment.

A CCR5 antagonist, maraviroc, alleviates neural circuit dysfunction and behavioral disorders induced by prenatal valproate exposure

BackgroundValproic acid (VPA) is a clinically used antiepileptic drug, but it is associated with a significant risk of a low verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) score, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in children when it is administered during pregnancy. Prenatal VPA exposure has been reported to affect neurogenesis and neuronal migration and differentiation. In addition, growing evidence has shown that microglia and brain immune cells are activated by VPA treatment. However, the role of VPA-activated microglia remains unclear.MethodsPregnant female mice received sodium valproate on E11.5. A microglial activation inhibitor, minocycline or a CCR5 antagonist, maraviroc was dissolved in drinking water and administered to dams from P1 to P21. Measurement of microglial activity, evaluation of neural circuit function and expression analysis were performed on P10. Behavioral tests were performed in the order of open field test, Y-maze test, social affiliation test and marble burying test from the age of 6 weeks.ResultsPrenatal exposure of mice to VPA induced microglial activation and neural circuit dysfunction in the CA1 region of the hippocampus during the early postnatal periods and post-developmental defects in working memory and social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Minocycline, a microglial activation inhibitor, clearly suppressed the above effects, suggesting that microglia elicit neural dysfunction and behavioral disorders. Next-generation sequencing analysis revealed that the expression of a chemokine, C–C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3), was upregulated in the hippocampi of VPA-treated mice. CCL3 expression increased in microglia during the early postnatal periods via an epigenetic mechanism. The CCR5 antagonist maraviroc significantly suppressed neural circuit dysfunction and post-developmental behavioral disorders induced by prenatal VPA exposure.ConclusionThese findings suggest that microglial CCL3 might act during development to contribute to VPA-induced post-developmental behavioral abnormalities. CCR5-targeting compounds such as maraviroc might alleviate behavioral disorders when administered early.

Childhood maltreatment and cognitive functioning in middle adulthood

BackgroundChildhood maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect) is associated with cognitive deficits in adulthood. Little is known about how childhood maltreatment affects the trajectory of cognitive functioning during early to middle adulthood. ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between childhood maltreatment and change in cognitive functioning over a 10-year period in adulthood. MethodsUtilizing a prospective cohort design, a large group of court-substantiated cases of childhood maltreatment (ages 0–11) and demographically matched controls were followed into adulthood (N = 1196). Verbal intelligence and reading ability were assessed at age 29, and executive functioning was assessed at age 41. Linear, mixed-effects modeling was used to evaluate childhood maltreatment as a predictor of cognitive functioning and change in cognitive functioning over time. ResultsChildhood maltreatment was associated with lower cognitive functioning at age 29 compared to controls (β = −0.28, p < .001), and this association was stronger for childhood neglect (β = −0.33, p < .001). Controls declined in cognitive functioning over the 10-year period (β = −0.12, p = .039), whereas childhood maltreatment overall was associated with no change. Adults with histories of neglect demonstrated an increase in cognitive functioning (β = 0.13, p = .021). ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that childhood maltreatment is associated with cognitive functioning deficits in adulthood and suggest that cognitive change in adulthood may be differentially impacted by type of maltreatment. The initial deficit demonstrated by adults with childhood neglect was largely erased by a subsequent increase in cognitive functioning over 10 years.

Serum neurofilament light reflects cognitive dysfunctions in children with obstructive sleep apnea

BackgroundIn children, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause cognitive dysfunctions. Amyloid-beta and tau are elevated in OSA. Neurofilament light (NfL) is a marker of neuro-axonal damage, but there are no reports of NfL for OSA. The objective was to investigate the serum levels of NfL and tau in children with or without OSA and explore their relationship with cognitive dysfunctions caused by OSA.MethodsThis retrospective case–control study included children diagnosed with adenoid tonsil hypertrophy from July 2017 to September 2019 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University. Correlations between cognitive scores and tau and NfL were examined.ResultsFifty-six OSA and 49 non-OSA children were included. The serum NfL levels were higher in the OSA group (31.68 (27.29–36.07) pg/ml) than in the non-OSA group (19.13 (17.32–20.95) pg/ml) (P < 0.001). Moreover, NfL was correlated with the course of the disease, apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), obstructive apnea index (OAI), obstructive apnea–hypopnea index (OAHI), average oxygen saturation (SaO2), respiratory arousal index (RAI), and cognitive dysfunctions evaluated by the Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) (all P < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of NfL was 0.816 (95%CI: 0.736–0.897). Multiple regression analysis revealed that NfL was significantly associated with verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ), performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) and full-scale intelligence quotient (FIQ) (P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsSerum NfL levels are associated with the severity of cognitive dysfunctions in children diagnosed with adenoid tonsil hypertrophy and might be a candidate noninvasive, objective marker to identify cognitive dysfunctions in children with OSA.

Cognitive reserve protects ALS-typical cognitive domains: A longitudinal study.

Background and ObjectivesTo determine whether cognitive reserve (CR) as measured by verbal intelligence quotient, educational length, and achievement protects amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients' verbal fluency, executive functioning, and memory against brain volume loss over a period of 12 months.MethodsThis cohort study was completed between 2013 and 2016 with a follow‐up duration of 12 months. ALS patients were recruited from two specialist out‐patient clinics in Rostock and Magdeburg in Germany. Participants underwent cognitive testing and magnetic resonance imaging both at baseline and again after 12 months. The cognitive domains assessed included verbal memory in addition to executive functions such as verbal fluency, working memory, shifting and selective attention.ResultsThirty‐eight ALS patients took part; 25 patients had no cognitive impairment (ALSni), and 13 were cognitively impaired (ALSci). On average, patients lost 294 mm3 in their superior frontal gyri, 225 mm3 in their orbitofrontal gyri, and 15.97 mm3 in their hippocampi over 12 months. There was strong evidence that CR protected letter fluency from further decline (Bayes factor [BF] >10) and moderate evidence that it supported learning effects in letter flexibility (BF >3). However, there is a lack of evidence supporting the notion that working memory, shifting, selective attention or verbal memory (BF = 1) are protected.DiscussionAs CR is easily determined and protects ALS‐specific cognitive domains over time, it should be regarded as a valuable predictive marker.

Adolescent's time use and skills development: Do cognitive and non-cognitive skills differ?

This study looks at the association of adolescent’s time use on the acquisition of cognitive and non-cognitive (psychological and social) skills, thus contributing to the literature on parental investment and skills development. Specifically, using data relating to adolescent’s time spent on school, study, sleep, and play, we investigate how these relate to cognitive and non-cognitive skills of older Indian children. For cognitive skills we use Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), which is a well-accepted measure of verbal intelligence. For non-cognitive skills, we construct a self-esteem variable using pride and shame questions; and a resilience variable using questions pertaining to whether an adolescent can get external help for coping with problems. Our results suggest that time use in all four types of activity has a positive association in the development of cognitive skills but competing associations when it comes to non-cognitive skills. We conclude that parental inputs into skills development, such as guidance about adolescent’s time-use, are likely to have a differential association depending on the kind of skills being developed.

Air pollution exposure during pregnancy and childhood, cognitive function, and emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents

BackgroundExposure to air pollution may impact neurodevelopment during childhood, but current evidence on the association with cognitive function and mental health is inconclusive and primarily focusses on young children. Therefore, we aim to study the association of exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and childhood, with cognitive function and emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents. MethodsWe used data from 5170 participants of a birth cohort in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Concentrations of fourteen air pollutants at participant's home addresses were estimated during pregnancy and childhood, using land use regression models. We included four cognitive domains (processing speed, working memory, fluid reasoning and verbal intelligence quotient (IQ)) and an estimated full-scale IQ. Internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems were self- and parent-reported. We used linear regression models to assess the association of each air pollutant, with cognitive function and emotional and behavioral problems, adjusting for socioeconomic status and lifestyle characteristics. Then, we performed multipollutant analyses using the Deletion/Substitution/Addition (DSA) algorithm. ResultsAir pollution exposure was not associated with full-scale IQ, working memory, or processing speed. Higher exposure to few air pollutants was associated with higher fluid reasoning and verbal IQ scores (e.g. 0.22 points of fluid reasoning (95%CI 0.00; 0.44) per 1 μg/m3 increase in organic carbon during pregnancy). Higher exposure to some air pollutants was also associated with less internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems (e.g. −0.27 internalizing problems (95% CI -0.52; −0.02) per each 5 ng/m3 increase in copper during pregnancy). ConclusionsHigher exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and childhood was not associated with lower cognitive function or more emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents. Based on previous literature and biological plausibility, the observed protective associations are probably explained by negative residual confounding, selection bias, or chance and do not represent a causal relationship.

The Relations of Attention to and Clarity of Feelings With Facial Affect Perception.

Attention to emotions and emotional clarity are core dimensions of individual differences in emotion awareness. Findings from prior research based on self-report indicate that attention to and recognition of one’s own emotions are related to attention to and recognition of other people’s emotions. In the present experimental study, we examined the relations of attention to and clarity of emotions with the efficiency of facial affect perception. Moreover, it was explored whether attention to and clarity of emotions are linked to negative interpretations of facial expressions. A perception of facial expressions (PFE) task based on schematic faces with neutral, ambiguous, or unambiguous emotional expressions and a gender decision task were administered to healthy individuals along with measures of emotion awareness, state and trait anxiety, depression, and verbal intelligence. Participants had to decide how much the faces express six basic affects. Evaluative ratings and decision latencies were analyzed. Attention to feelings was negatively correlated with evaluative decision latency, whereas clarity of feelings was not related to decision latency in the PFE task. Attention to feelings was positively correlated with the perception of negative affects in ambiguous faces. Attention to feelings and emotional clarity were not related to gender decision latency. According to our results, dispositional attention to feelings goes along with an enhanced efficiency of facial affect perception. Habitually paying attention to one’s own emotions may facilitate processing of external emotional information. Preliminary evidence was obtained suggesting a relationship of dispositional attention to feelings with negative interpretations of facial expressions.

Особливості когнітивної сфери кваліфікованих жінок-боксерок

The purpose of the study is to analyze a set of characteristics of the cognitive sphere of qualified women-boxers in the preparatory and training period. Materials and methods. The article presents the results of a pedagogical experiment that took place at the Koncha-Zaspa sports base with the participation of 19 qualified female boxers. According to the purpose of the study, a comprehensive analysis of the cognitive sphere of combatants in the preparatory period was carried out. The computer complex "Multipsychometer-05" was used to study the features of the cognitive sphere in the preparatory period of women-boxers. To assess the cognitive functions of skilled boxers the techniques of "Regularity" was used to solve verbal problems, which is designed to study the thinking process, including: activity, intelligence, flexibility and RAM and the Domino test to determine nonverbal intellectual abilities. The reliability and validity of the results of scientific research was provided by modern methodological approaches widely used in the theory and methodology of sports training; the use of informative research methods that meet the goals and objectives; a sufficient sample size and the use of modern methods of mathematical statistics in the processing. Results and discussion. The peculiarities of the manifestation of cognitive organization in skilled women-boxers in the conditions of psycho-emotional load were determined. Performing the test task "Establishing patterns" gave us the opportunity to determine verbal intelligence, namely, performance indicators of the function of perception, thinking and attention. Thus, 47.4% (n = 9) of athletes had a low level of verbal intelligence, 31.6% (n = 6) had a medium level and 21.0% (n = 4) had a high level of productivity. The presence of high and medium levels of performance in boxers indicates an increased level of verbal intelligence in women-boxers. The Domino test was used to study nonverbal intellectual abilities. Low values of performance on the Domino test were found in 42.1% (n = 8) of female boxers. The average level was found in 26.4% (n = 5) of athletes, and the remaining 31.6% (n = 6) had a high level of nonverbal intelligence. In most groups boxers showed a high level of nonverbal intelligence, which determines the peculiarities of perception in the process of training to succeed in sports. The remaining female boxers are characterized by nonverbal intellectual abilities. Their intellect is associated with the perception of external factors associated with the opponent's action. They have the ability to quickly respond to situations that develop in a duel. Conclusion. The results of the performance of the verbal test task by athletes, indicate a high degree of expression of the processes of perception and processing of verbal information and an increased level of correctly solved tasks in 52.3% of boxers. In the course of scientific research we found that 52.3% (n = 10) women-boxers have the ability to operate with real objects, images of objects, images, perceive and process information of varying complexity due to sufficient manifestation of nonverbal intelligence

THE USE OF SNAKES AND LADDERS MATH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPLE INTELLEGENCES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS SUMMATION MATERIALS

Each student has a different level of intelligence, as a result their learning needs are also not aligned. Children have multiple intelligences so a strategy is needed to accommodate the intelligence possessed by children. This research was conducted at SD Islam Tepadu Permata Cendekia, Simalungun Regency, to be precise in third grade students. The aim is to see the effectiveness of the Multiple Intelligences Learning Strategy with the help of Snakes and Ladders Math media on addition material in Mathematics. The implementation of this research is in the form of quasi-experimental research with One group pretest posttest design. Data collection is done by applying tests as well as observations. The results of the study showed that there was an increase in the average score of students before and after being given treatment, namely (40 91). So that it can improve children's mathematical logical intelligence and verbal intelligence through tests. In addition, the physical and interpersonal intelligence of students is also seen when the traditional game media is applied. So it can be concluded that the application of Media Snakes and Ladders is effective in developing Multiple Intelligences in class III SDIT Permata Cendekia, Simalungun Regency.

Emotional Word Processing in Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy.

ObjectiveAccording to Panksepp's hierarchical emotion model, emotion processing relies on three functionally and neuroanatomically distinct levels. These levels comprise subcortical networks (primary level), the limbic system (secondary level), and the neocortex (tertiary level) and are suggested to serve differential emotional processing. We aimed to validate and extend previous evidence of discrete and dimensional emotion processing in patient with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).MethodsWe recorded brain activity of patients with JME and healthy controls in response to lexical decisions to words reflecting the discrete emotion fear and the affective dimension negativity previously suggested to rely on different brain regions and to reflect different levels of processing. In all study participants, we tested verbal cognitive functions, as well as the relationship of psychiatric conditions, seizure types and duration of epilepsy and emotional word processing.ResultsIn support of the hierarchical emotion model, we found an interaction of discrete emotion and affective dimensional processing in the right amygdala likely to reflect secondary level processing. Brain activity related to affective dimensional processing was found in the right inferior frontal gyrus and is suggested to reflect tertiary level processing. Psychiatric conditions, type of seizure nor mono- vs. polytherapy and duration of epilepsy within patients did not have any effect on the processing of emotional words. In addition, no differences in brain activity or response times between patients and controls were observed, despite neuropsychological testing revealed slightly decreased verbal intelligence, verbal fluency and reading speed in patients with JME.SignificanceThese results were interpreted to be in line with the hierarchical emotion model and to highlight the amygdala's role in processing biologically relevant stimuli, as well as to suggest a semantic foundation of affective dimensional processing in prefrontal cortex. A lack of differences in brain activity of patients with JME and healthy controls in response to the emotional content of words could point to unaffected implicit emotion processing in patients with JME.

Curative Effect of Prebiotics/Probiotics-Assisted Ketogenic Diet on Children with Refractory Epilepsy.

Objective The aim is to study the curative effect of prebiotics/probiotics-assisted ketogenic diet (KD) on children with refractory epilepsy. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 80 children with refractory epilepsy treated in the hospital between December 2018 and December 2020. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into the KD group (36 cases, KD) and combination group (44 cases, prebiotics/probiotics assisted KD). All were followed up for 1 year. The curative effect, electroencephalogram findings, levels of neurotransmitters, quality of life scores, cognitive function (verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ), performance intelligence quotient (PIQ)), and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results At the last follow-up, the effective rate of the combination group was higher than that of the KD group (95.45% vs 80.56%) (P < 0.05). After 1 year of treatment, video electroencephalogram findings in both groups were improved, and the response rate of the combination group was higher than that of the KD group (97.73% vs 83.33%) (P < 0.05). After 1 year of treatment, levels of VIQ and PIQ in both groups were increased, which were higher in the combination group than the KD group (P < 0.05). After 1 year of treatment, the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in both groups was increased, which was higher in the combination group than the KD group (P < 0.05). After 1 year of treatment, quality of life scores in both groups were increased, which was higher in the combination group than the KD group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the combination group was lower than that in the KD group (13.64% vs 36.11%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion The curative effect of prebiotics/probiotics-assisted KD is better on children with refractory epilepsy, which can effectively improve electroencephalogram and quality of life, increase neurotransmitters and cognitive levels, with good safety.

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Left Primary Motor Cortex on Verbal Intelligence.

Previous studies have shown that changes in gray matter density and volume in the left primary motor cortex are significantly associated with changes in individuals’ verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ), but not with their performance intelligence quotient (PIQ). In the present study, we examined the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left primary motor cortex on performance in intelligence tests. We chose four subtests (two each for VIQ and PIQ) of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Chinese Revised version and randomized participants into anodal, cathodal, and sham groups. We found that anodal stimulation significantly improved performance in verbal intelligence subtests compared to cathodal and sham stimulation, while performance intelligence subtest scores did not change in any stimulation condition. These findings suggest that the excitation level of the left primary motor cortex has a unique effect on verbal intelligence.

0490 Longitudinal associations between sleep and behavior and cognition in preschoolers from five European birth-cohorts

Abstract Introduction There has been little focus on sleep and its relation to behavior and cognition in preschool-aged children. We aimed to investigate the association between sleep duration in early preschoolers (» 3.5 years of age) and later behavioral and cognitive outcomes (» 5 years of age) in European children. Methods We used harmonized data from five cohorts from the EU Child Cohort Network, established by the LifeCycle Project (n=16.444 children): ALSPAC and SWS from UK, EDEN and ELFE from France and INMA from Spain. Within all cohorts, total sleep duration per day and behavioral and cognitive information were reported by parents. Internalizing and externalizing behaviors were measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and treated as percentile scores. Verbal and non-verbal intelligence were assessed by the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence or with the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities depending on the cohort and treated as standardized scores. All scores were cohort specific. Associations between sleep duration during early preschool age and later behavior and/or cognition were estimated using linear regression and pooled with two-stage individual participant data meta-analysis adjusted for child, maternal and household information. Analyses were done in DataSHIELD. Results Global mean sleep duration was 11h54 ± 1h00 per day at mean age 3.5 years but differed by country, with children from France showing longer sleep duration than children from the UK or Spain. In multivariate meta-analysis, 1 hour of additional sleep duration per day at mean age 3.5 years was associated with reduced internalizing and externalizing behavior percentile scores at mean age 5.1 years (internalizing behavior: badjusted= -1.05, 95%-CI [-1.93, -0.18], I2: 30.3%; externalizing behavior: badjusted= -2.12, 95%-CI [-2.78, -1.47], I2: 0.0%). No association was observed between sleep duration and subsequent verbal or non-verbal intelligence Conclusion Longer sleep duration in early preschool age (» 3.5 years of age) was associated with subsequent lower internalizing and externalizing behavior scores (» 5 years of age), but not with verbal or non-verbal intelligence. Adequate sleep duration at an early age is important for children’s later mental health. Support (If Any) KG was granted a LifeCycle fellowship.

0190 Association of Sleep Spindle Activity with Cognition in Youth from the General Population

Abstract Introduction Sleep spindle activity has been increasingly studied as an underlying mechanism of cognition. In youth, it appears the relationship between spindle activity and cognition depends upon the spindle metric and cognitive domain examined. Prior research has been conducted primarily in highly selective experimental studies of typically developing youth. We aimed to clarify the relationship between spindle activity and lower and higher order cognitive functions in children and adolescents from the general population. Methods We studied 639 children aged 5-12y (median 9y) and 418 adolescents aged 12-23y (median 16y) from a population-based cohort. All subjects underwent a 9-hour, in-lab polysomnography. We calculated sleep spindle density (SSD), the total number of spindles per minute of stage 2 of non-rapid eye movement sleep, and peak spindle frequency (PSF) in the 10-16 Hz range at central, frontal and fronto-occipital derivations. Wechsler intelligence testing assessed verbal and non-verbal intelligence quotients (IQ), processing speed (coding) and working memory (digit span backward [DSB]). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models with age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, apnea/hypopnea index, and insomnia symptoms as covariates examined the association between SSD and PSF with cognitive outcomes. Results At ages 5-12, central SSD was positively associated with verbal IQ (p=0.04), non-verbal IQ (p=0.03), coding (p=0.01) and DSB (p&amp;lt;0.01); additionally, frontal SSD was positively associated with coding and DSB (both p&amp;lt;0.01) and fronto-occipital SSD with DSB (p&amp;lt;0.01). Also, central (p&amp;lt;0.01) and frontal (p=0.01) PSF was positively associated with DSB. At ages 12-23, fronto-occipital SSD was positively associated with non-verbal IQ (p=0.02), while no other statistically significant associations were observed for SSD or PSF with cognitive outcomes (all p≥0.08). Conclusion Spindle density is a strong correlate of general ability (both verbal and non-verbal IQ) in childhood, and it remains for non-verbal IQ in adolescence. Both increased spindle density and peak frequency are associated with better working memory in childhood, yet not in adolescence. These developmental differences may be due to cortical (e.g., synaptic pruning) and thalamocortical (e.g., increased myelination) maturational changes occurring during adolescence. Support (If Any) National Institutes of Health (R01MH118308, UL1TR000127)

A convergent structure-function substrate of cognitive imbalances in autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental diagnosis showing substantial phenotypic heterogeneity. A leading example can be found in verbal and nonverbal cognitive skills, which vary from elevated to impaired compared with neurotypical individuals. Moreover, deficits in verbal profiles often coexist with normal or superior performance in the nonverbal domain. To study brain substrates underlying cognitive imbalance in ASD, we capitalized categorical and dimensional IQ profiling as well as multimodal neuroimaging. IQ analyses revealed a marked verbal to nonverbal IQ imbalance in ASD across 2 datasets (Dataset-1: 155 ASD, 151 controls; Dataset-2: 270 ASD, 490 controls). Neuroimaging analysis in Dataset-1 revealed a structure-function substrate of cognitive imbalance, characterized by atypical cortical thickening and altered functional integration of language networks alongside sensory and higher cognitive areas. Although verbal and nonverbal intelligence have been considered as specifiers unrelated to autism diagnosis, our results indicate that intelligence disparities are accentuated in ASD and reflected by a consistent structure-function substrate affecting multiple brain networks. Our findings motivate the incorporation of cognitive imbalances in future autism research, which may help to parse the phenotypic heterogeneity and inform intervention-oriented subtyping in ASD.

Validating a situational judgment test of intercultural competence for use with education professionals

ABSTRACT Given the growing importance of intercultural competence (IC) as part of the know-how of (future) education professionals, the present study sought to develop a tool that would validly assess this competence in the target population. The proposed 9-item instrument, labeled the Brief Test of Intercultural judgment (BTIJ), adopts the format of a situational judgment test (SJT) and targets the ability to accurately interpret others’ behavior in the face of cultural differences, as an arguably essential aspect of IC. The test was developed based on Cushner and Brislin’s culture-universal assimilator and psychometrically scrutinized with a sample of 245 preservice teachers and education specialists. Item homogeneity surfaced as an issue, yet the test’s convergent-discriminant validity was largely confirmed by findings of small-to-moderate positive associations with verbal intelligence, knowledge of different cultures, and experience with foreign languages. Moreover, in a subsample of n=34 participants, the test was positively related (r=.43) to performance on a real-life task requiring intercultural communication in the educational context. The BTIJ is thus regarded as a promising tool for assessing IC in education professionals, bearing the common advantages and limitations of an SJT-type measure. Recommendations for further investigations and improvements of the instrument are provided.