Wechsler Abbreviated Scale Of Intelligence Research Articles

Neuropsychological scores and WeeFIM cognitive ratings of children with traumatic brain injury: A brief report

Primary objective and hypothesis: To test the hypothesis that there is a significant relationship between WeeFIM ratings of cognitive functioning and performance on neuropsychological tests of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Design: Retrospective analysis of archival data.Participants: Data from 52 children with severe TBI collected during inpatient rehabilitation.Main outcome measures: Multiple regression analysis with Neuropsychological test scores from Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and Children’s Memory Scale (CMS) entered as predictor variables and WeeFIM cognitive ratings as criteria variables.Results: Analyses revealed significant relationships between WeeFIM cognitive rating and neuropsychological test scores. Delayed verbal memory was most highly associated with WeeFIM cognitive ratings.Conclusions: Results support the hypothesis of significant relationships between neuropsychological performance and WeeFIM ratings of children with TBI and support generalizability of neuropsychological performance to daily cognitive functioning.

Inflammatory markers are associated with general cognitive abilities in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients and healthy controls

BackgroundThe mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are largely unknown. Immune abnormalities have been found in both disorders, and inflammatory mediators may play roles in cognitive function. We investigated if inflammatory markers are associated with general cognitive abilities. MethodsParticipants with schizophrenia spectrum (N=121) and bipolar spectrum (N=111) disorders and healthy controls (N=241) were included. General intellectual abilities were assessed using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). Serum concentrations of the following immune markers were measured: Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), osteoprotegerin, von Willebrand factor, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and CD40 ligand. ResultsAfter adjusting for age, sex and diagnostic group, significant negative associations with general cognitive function were found for sTNF-R1 (p=2×10−5), IL-1Ra (p=0.002) and sCD40 ligand (p=0.003). Among patients, the associations remained significant (p=0.006, p=0.005 and p=0.02) after adjusting for possible confounders including education, smoking, psychotic and affective symptoms, body mass index, cortisol, medication and time of blood sampling. Subgroup analysis, showed that general cognitive abilities were significantly associated with IL-1Ra and sTNF-R1 in schizophrenia patients, with sCD40L and IL-1Ra in bipolar disorder patients and with sTNF-R1 in healthy controls. ConclusionThe study shows significant negative associations between inflammatory markers and general cognitive abilities after adjusting for possible confounders. The findings strongly support a role for inflammation in the neurophysiology of cognitive impairment.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 7 years’ corrected age in preterm infants who were fed high-dose docosahexaenoic acid to term equivalent: a follow-up of a randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveTo determine if improvements in cognitive outcome detected at 18 months’ corrected age (CA) in infants born <33 weeks’ gestation receiving a high-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) compared with standard-DHA diet were...

Neuroprotection in the Aftermath of a First Episode of Mania.

Objectives Despite cognition being normal or even superior tocontrols prior to a first episode of mania, there is a decline in cognitivecapacity that is arguably steepest in the interval after a first episode ofmania. What is unclear, is the extent to which this can be prevented and whichagents might be most useful for doing so. Methods This study reports the outcomes of a single-blind, randomised control trial of maintenance therapy with lithium compared toquetiapine after a first episode of mania. Cognition and structural imagingwere the primary endpoints. Results This study examined a number of paper and pencil tests ofneurocognition as well as a computerised battery including Cogstate andPresentation. Tests used include the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading, the WechslerAbbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Digit Span and Digit Symbol sub-tests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – III, Trail Making Test, Rey Auditory VerbalLearning Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Task, Attention Network Test, Go-Nogoand Stroop Tasks. Results of this study will be presented. Conclusions Given that cognition is a major symptomatic domain ofbipolar disorder and has substantive effects on quality of life, functioningand symptomatic outcomes, the ability to influence the trajectory of cognitivechange is of considerable clinical importance.

Impact of intraventricular hemorrhage on cognitive and behavioral outcomes at 18 years of age in low birth weight preterm infants.

Although high-grade intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH; grades III-IV) in preterm and low birth weight infants are clearly associated with increased risk of long-term adverse neurodevelopmental sequelae, the impact of low-grade IVH (grades I-II) has been less clear. Some studies have followed these infants through early school age and have shown some conflicting results regarding cognitive outcome. Such studies that assess children at younger ages may not accurately predict outcomes in later childhood, as it is known that fluid and crystallized intelligence peak at age 26 years. There is paucity of data in current medical literature, which correlates low-grade IVH with outcomes in early adulthood. To determine the link between the occurrence of low-grade IVH in low birth weight (birth weight ⩽2500 g) infants born prematurely (gestational age <37 weeks) and intellectual function, academic achievement, and behavioral problems to the age of 18 years. This study is an analysis of data derived from the Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP), a multisite national collaborative study and a randomized controlled trial of education intervention for low birth weight infants from birth until 3 years of age with follow-up through 18 years of age. A total of 985 infants were enrolled in the IHDP. Of the 462 infants tested for IVH, 99 demonstrated sonographic evidence of low-grade IVH, whereas 291 showed no sonographic evidence of IVH. Several outcomes were compared between these two groups. Intelligence was assessed using Stanford-Binet Intelligence scales at age 3 years, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) at age 8 years, Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) at age 18 years and Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement at age 8 and 18 years. Behavior was measured using the Achenbach Behavior Checklist at age 3 years and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at age 8 and 18 years. Outcomes were compared between the IVH-positive and IVH-negative groups using analysis of covariance after adjusting for the presence or absence of intervention, birth weight, gestational age, gender, severity of neonatal course, race and maternal education. No statistically significant difference in intelligence as measured by Stanford-Binet Intelligence scales, WISC-III, WASI and Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement could be appreciated between IVH-positive patients and controls at any age group (36 months, 8 years and 18 years of age). In addition, there was no significant difference in problem behavior as assessed by the Achenbach Behavior Checklist and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) comparing IVH patients with controls. Low-grade IVH was not demonstrated in our study to be an independent risk factor associated with lower outcomes in intelligence, academic achievement or problem behavior at age 3, 8 and 18 years.

Predictors of neuropsychological effort test performance in schizophrenia

There is some evidence that insufficient effort may be common in schizophrenia, posing significant threats to the validity of neuropsychological test results. Low effort may account for a significant proportion of variance in neuropsychological test scores and the generalized cognitive deficit that characterizes the disorder. The current study evaluated clinical predictors of insufficient effort in schizophrenia using an embedded effort measure, the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Effort Index (EI). Participants were 330 patients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or another psychotic disorder who received a battery of neuropsychological tests, including: Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR), Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), and RBANS. Clinical assessments designed to measure functional outcome and symptoms were also obtained. Results indicated that 9.4% of patients failed the EI. Patients who failed had lower full-scale, verbal, and performance IQ, as well as poorer performance on RBANS domains not included in the EI (immediate memory, language, and visuospatial/construction). Patients who failed the EI also displayed poorer community-based vocational outcome, greater likelihood of having “deficit schizophrenia” (i.e., primary and enduring negative symptoms), and increased severity of positive symptoms. Regression analyses revealed that insufficient effort was most significantly predicted by a combination of low IQ, negative symptoms, and positive symptoms. Findings suggest that although insufficient effort may be relatively uncommon in schizophrenia, it is associated with important clinical outcomes. The RBANS EI may be a useful tool in evaluating insufficient effort in schizophrenia.

Mismatch Negativity in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Event Abstract Back to Event Mismatch Negativity in Autism Spectrum Disorder Ulrich Schall1, 2*, Benjamin Weismueller3, 4, Renate Thienel2, 3, Anne-Marie Youlden5 and Ross Fulham3 1 University of Newcastle, PRC Translational Neuroscience & Mental Health Research, Australia 2 Schizophrenia Research Institute, Australia 3 University of Newcastle, Australia 4 University of Bremen, Germany 5 Educare, Australia Background: Growing evidence suggests impaired low-level sound processing in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Mismatch Negativity (MMN) represents a psychophysiological measure of low-level sound processing in primary auditory cortex. A reduction of the MMN event-related potential has been repeatedly reported in children diagnosed with ASD. However, previous studies did not sufficiently take into account developmental changes in sensory processing of auditory information. We hypothesized that the ability to process complex auditory information improves with brain development but not in ASD. Methods: Study participants were 18 boys aged between 6 to 15 years meeting DSM-IV ASD criteria. Data were compared to 15 age-matched healthy boys. All study participants were neuropsychologically assessed including IQ (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence). MMN was recorded in response to pitch, intensity, and stimulus duration deviance as well as in response to complex sounds (i.e. phonemes). Results: ASD children presented with lower IQ and impaired performance in verbal fluency and social cognition. Verbal fluency performance significantly correlated with MMN amplitudes in response to phoneme deviants. A strong differential association of MMN with age depending on stimulus complexity was equally found in both groups. Conclusion: These findings suggest that MMN captures brain maturation of low-level auditory information in 6 to 15 year old boys but does not discriminate children with ASD from their healthy counterparts despite ASD children were presenting with poor verbal fluency, lower IQ, and impaired social cognition. Keywords: mismatch negativity, brain maturation, verbal fluency, Austism, phonems Conference: XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 27 Jul - 31 Jul, 2014. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Cognition and Executive Processes Citation: Schall U, Weismueller B, Thienel R, Youlden A and Fulham R (2015). Mismatch Negativity in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Conference Abstract: XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2015.217.00387 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 19 Feb 2015; Published Online: 24 Apr 2015. * Correspondence: Prof. Ulrich Schall, University of Newcastle, PRC Translational Neuroscience & Mental Health Research, Newcastle, Australia, Ulrich.schall@newcastle.edu.au Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Ulrich Schall Benjamin Weismueller Renate Thienel Anne-Marie Youlden Ross Fulham Google Ulrich Schall Benjamin Weismueller Renate Thienel Anne-Marie Youlden Ross Fulham Google Scholar Ulrich Schall Benjamin Weismueller Renate Thienel Anne-Marie Youlden Ross Fulham PubMed Ulrich Schall Benjamin Weismueller Renate Thienel Anne-Marie Youlden Ross Fulham Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Cognitive and structural neuroimaging characteristics of schizophrenia patients with large, rare copy number deletions

Large (>500Kb), rare (frequency <1%) deletions are associated with risk for schizophrenia. The aim of the study was to characterise patients with these deletions using measures of cognition, grey-matter volume and white-matter integrity. Patients with schizophrenia and large, rare deletions (SZ-del) (n=17) were assessed on a test of intelligence, the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), and compared with age- and sex-matched schizophrenia patients without large, rare deletions (SZ-nodel) (n=65), and healthy controls (HCs) (n=50). Regional grey-matter differences were investigated using voxel-based morphometry (SZ-del=9; SZ-nodel=26; HC=19). White-matter integrity was assessed using fractional anisotropy (SZ-del=9; SZ-nodel=24; HC=15). Compared with schizophrenia patients without large, rare deletions, those with large, rare deletions had lower IQ; greater grey-matter volume in clusters with peaks in the left and right cerebellum, left hippocampus, and right rectal gyrus; and increased white-matter anisotropy in the body and genu of the corpus callosum. Compared with healthy controls, patients with large, rare deletions had reduced grey matter volume in the right calcarine gyrus. In sum, patients with large, rare deletions had structural profiles intermediate to those observed in healthy controls and schizophrenia patients without large, rare deletions, but had greater impairment in intelligence.

Delayed and disorganised brain activation detected with magnetoencephalography after mild traumatic brain injury

BackgroundAwareness to neurocognitive issues after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is increasing, but currently no imaging markers are available for mTBI. Advanced structural imaging recently showed microstructural tissue changes and...

Consciência fonológica e desenvolvimento da escrita na síndrome de Down: um estudo de caso longitudinal

Os objetivos deste estudo foram: verificar a existência de avanços em habilidades de consciência fonológica e escrita em uma criança com síndrome de Down, falante do português brasileiro, em um intervalo de tempo de quatro anos e oito meses; identificar quais habilidades de consciência fonológica desenvolveram-se e quais continuaram sendo de difícil resolução; verificar o desempenho do participante em testes de memória de trabalho fonológica e de inteligência verbal e de execução. A criança frequenta escola regular e tinha 7 anos de idade cronológica no início do estudo. A consciência fonológica e a escrita foram avaliadas em três momentos (T1, T2, T3) em um período de 4 anos e 8 meses. Para a avaliação da consciência fonológica foi utilizado o teste Consciência fonológica: instrumento de avaliação sequencial (CONFIAS). No T1 e T2, a escrita foi avaliada de acordo com critérios do mesmo instrumento; no T3, foi utilizado o subteste de escrita do Instrumento de Avaliação Neuropsicológica Breve Infantil (NEUPSILIN-INF). No T1, a memória de trabalho fonológica foi avaliada por meio do span de palavras e, no T3, foi utilizado o subteste de pseudopalavras do NEUPSILIN-INF. Para avaliação da inteligência verbal e de execução (T3), utilizou-se a Escala de Inteligência Wechsler Abreviada (WASI). Foram verificados progressos em habilidades de escrita e consciência fonológica ao longo do estudo. Algumas habilidades de consciência silábica aprimoraram-se, já tarefas que exigem manipulação de constituintes fonêmicos e consciência de rima continuaram de difícil acesso. O participante apresentou um bom desempenho no teste de repetição de palavras reais. O span de palavras reais foi superior ao span de pseudopalavras. O quociente de inteligência geral foi considerado limítrofe. Acredita-se que, neste caso, habilidades linguísticas e cognitivas, como o vocabulário verbal, a memória de trabalho fonológica e a capacidade intelectual, influenciaram o desempenho no teste de consciência fonológica e capacitaram a criança para o aprendizado da língua escrita.

C-36 * Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Longitudinal Neurocognitive Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: The study explored the neurocognitive profiles of pediatric patients with moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) at 3 (Time-1) and 12 months (Time-2) post injury. Previous research suggests deficits in cognition, attention, working memory, and processing speed. The current study was done to further explore these neurocognitive concerns in children with TBI. METHOD: 69 moderate/severe pediatric TBI patients ages 6-16 (73% male, mean age Time-1 = 11yrs, SD = 3.9; mean age Time-2 = 12yrs, SD = 3.7) completed Children's Memory Scale (CMS), Test of Everyday Attention-Children (TEA-Ch), and Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) 3-months and 12-months post injury. RESULTS were compared to 69 age-matched healthy controls (73% male, mean age Time-1 = 12 years, SD = 3.4; mean age Time-2 = 13 years, SD = 3.3) assessed twice 12 months apart. RESULTS: Descriptive and Paired t-tests were conducted revealing no significant differences in cognitive summary scores, memory indices, or TEA-Ch scores across both time points within groups (see Table 1). However, trends revealed increase in scores from Time-1 to Time-2 with control group performance significantly better across all measures at both time points. CONCLUSION(S): Consistent with current literature, neurocognitive profiles in this Moderate/Severe TBI population exhibited lower IQ, Memory, and Attention scores than healthy Controls. A within subjects pattern was noted indicating that children's whose scores were lower at Time-1 demonstrated limited improvement at Time-2. Conversely, subjects whose scores that were higher at Time-1 were more likely to demonstrate stronger improvement at Time-2. acn;29/6/586-a/ACU038TB1T1ACU038TB1Table 1. TBI and Control Neurocognitive Indices/Scaled scores Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) Performance IQ (PIQ) Verbal IQ (VIQ) General Memory Verbal Immediate Verbal Delayed Visual Immediate Visual Delayed Learning Delayed Recognition 3 months post-injury, Time 1N = 57 M= 90.3(SD =13.5)M= 103.6(SD =18.6) M= 93.4(SD= 14.4)M= 105.9(SD =15.0) M = 89.1(SD =14.2)M= 102.1(SD =15.6) M= 92.6 (SD = 20.8)M= 109.5(SD =17.3) M= 91.3(SD = 18.9)M= 105.5(SD =16.3) M= 92.1 (SD = 19.8)M= 109.9(SD =17.2) M= 95.3 (SD = 17.8)M= 104.9(SD =12.2) M= 96.6(SD = 17.2)M= 104.8(SD =12.6) M= 93.5 (SD = 19.6)M= 104.9(SD =16.0) M= 92.8(SD = 17.3)M= 102.5(SD =14.4) 12 months post-injury,Time 2N = 57 M= 93.1(SD =12.8)M= 109.3(SD =14.6) M= 97.1(SD = 13.0)M= 108.3(SD =15.3) M= 91.9 (SD = 14.7)M= 107.8(SD =14.2) M= 103.9 (SD = 22.2)M= 120.5(SD =14.5) M= 96.1(SD = 19.0)M= 111.3(SD =16.9) M= 97.5 (SD = 18.9)M= 115.1(SD =15.6) M= 107.0 (SD = 18.9)M= 115(SD =12.8) M= 109.2 (SD = 16.2)M= 114.7(SD =11.9) M= 98.9 (SD = 19.3)M= 110.3(SD =14.6) M= 94.7(SD = 17.7)M= 104.9(SD =13.5) *WASI & CMS scores based on standard scores with M = 100, SD = 15 TEA-Ch:Correct Targets TEA-Ch:Time per Target TEA-Ch:Attention Score TEA-Ch:Score! TEA-Ch:Creature Counting TEA-Ch:Sky Search DT TEA-Ch:Map Mission TEA-Ch:Score DT TEA-Ch:Walk/Don't Walk 3 months post-injury, Time 1N = 57 M= 9.1(SD =3.5)M= 8.9(SD =4.2) M= 8.1(SD= 3.7)M= 9.3(SD =3.0) M = 8.9(SD =3.6)M= 9.2(SD =3.1) M= 8.4(SD = 3.2)M= 9.2(SD =3.0) M= 9.6(SD = 3.4)M= 12.1(SD =3.3) M= 6.7(SD = 4.2)M= 8.1(SD =3.7) M= 7.3(SD = 3.2)M= 7.6(SD =3.1) M= 7.8(SD = 3.3)M= 11.2(SD =3.4) M= 6.7(SD = 3.4)M= 9.6(SD =3.2) 12 months post-injury,Time 2N = 57 M= 9.8(SD =3.2)M= 13.2(SD =3.9) M= 9.8(SD = 3.5)M= 13.3(SD =3.4) M= 10.6 (SD = 3.7)M= 13.1(SD =3.3) M= 8.7 (SD = 3.5)M= 12.3(SD =3.0) M= 10.3(SD = 2.9)M= 14.4(SD =3.5) M= 8.6(SD = 3.7)M= 9.2(SD =3.6) M= 7.2(SD = 4.1)M= 10.1(SD =3.1) M= 8.0(SD = 3.6)M= 8.2(SD =4.1) M= 9.3(SD = 3.0)M= 10.3(SD =3.3) *TEA-Ch scores are based on scaled scores with M = 10, SD = 3 **Healthy Control scores are coded gray. Language: en

C-78 * Predicting Insufficient Effort in Schizophrenia using the Repeated Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status Effort Index

Objective: There is some evidence that insufficient effort may be common in schizophrenia, posing significant threats to the validity of neuropsychological test results. Low effort may account for a significant proportion of variance in neuropsychological test scores and the generalized cognitive deficit that characterizes the disorder. The current study evaluated the role of effort in neuropsychological test results in schizophrenia using an embedded effort measure, the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Effort Index (EI). Method: Participants were 347 patients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Patients received a battery of neuropsychological tests, including: (1) Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR), (2) Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), and (3) RBANS, as well as instruments designed to measure functional outcome, symptoms, and premorbid adjustment. Results: Sixty-four schizophrenia patients (18.4%) failed the EI. Patients who failed had lower full-scale, verbal, and performance IQ, as well as poorer performance on RBANS domains not included in the EI (immediate memory, language), with the exception of visuospatial/construction. Patients who failed also had poorer community-based functional outcome, greater severity of negative symptoms, and poorer premorbid adjustment in childhood and adolescence. Conclusion(s): Poor effort in schizophrenia occurs in a significant minority of patients who appear to have a more severe form of the illness with poor premorbid development, higher levels of negative symptoms, and poorer functional outcomes. Poor effort, which is likely the result of apathy and motivational processes characteristic of the disease, may therefore be an important consideration in the neuropsychological evaluation of schizophrenia.

Unilateral hearing loss is associated with a negative effect on language scores in adolescents

ObjectiveTo determine if adolescents with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) demonstrate worse language skills than their siblings with normal hearing (NH). DesignCase-control study of 12–17-year-old adolescents with UHL (20 cases) compared with sibling controls with NH (13 controls). MethodsScores on the oral portion of the Oral and Written Language Scales (OWLS) and the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF) were the primary outcome measure. Wechsler's Abbreviated Scales of Intelligence (WASI) scores were also used as an outcome measure. ResultsAdolescents with UHL demonstrated worse overall and expressive language scores than controls, (98 vs. 114, P=0.001; 100 vs. 114, P=0.006) and had significantly lower full scale (98 vs. 112, P=0.017), verbal (101 vs. 113, P=0.032), and performance IQ (95 vs. 107, P=0.037). ConclusionsThese findings suggest that UHL in adolescents is associated with a negative effect on standardized language scores and IQ. They also demonstrate that the developmental gap between children with UHL and children with NH does not resolve as the children progress into adolescence and may even widen as the children grow older. Therefore, these results strongly encourage implementation of early intervention for children with UHL to prevent speech-language delays. More studies in adolescents are warranted to evaluate educational outcomes.

The relationship between IQ and performance on the MATRICS consensus cognitive battery

The associations between IQ and individual tests of neurocognitive function are well studied. However, there is a lack of information as to how IQ relates to performance on neuropsychological test batteries as a whole and in the same individuals. In this study, 250 healthy participants aged 20-69 years were tested with the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). In correlation analyses, IQ was significantly related to all MCCB scores, except the Social Cognition domain. Hierarchical regression analyses including gender, age, and education confirmed this association. For overall cognitive function, 50% of the variance was explained by IQ and demographic characteristics. For the domains Speed of Processing, Working Memory, Visual and Verbal Learning, IQ explained a larger proportion of the variance than the demographic factors did. The implication is that these domains may provide information of a person’s intelligence level.

Use of a Brief Screening Tool to Assess Intellectual Functioning in a Forensic Population

Individuals with intellectual disability are over-represented in forensic settings, including jails, prisons and forensic psychiatric treatment units. Identification of intellectual disability is important in such settings, especially in light of the implications of intellectual disability in legal issues including competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility and capital sentencing. We examined the utility of a brief test of intelligence (PROFOKS), assessing knowledge of proverbs, fund of knowledge and similarities in a series of 29 inpatients residing in a forensic psychiatric unit. PROFOKS correlated strongly with performance on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), including the full scale, verbal and performance IQs and WASI subscales. The PROFOKS appears to be a useful screening tool in identifying intellectual disability in a forensic psychiatric population.

The role of cognitive versus emotional intelligence in Iowa Gambling Task performance: What's emotion got to do with it?

Debate persists regarding the relative role of cognitive versus emotional processes in driving successful performance on the widely used Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). From the time of its initial development, patterns of IGT performance were commonly interpreted as primarily reflecting implicit, emotion-based processes. Surprisingly, little research has tried to directly compare the extent to which measures tapping relevant cognitive versus emotional competencies predict IGT performance in the same study. The current investigation attempts to address this question by comparing patterns of associations between IGT performance, cognitive intelligence (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence; WASI) and three commonly employed measures of emotional intelligence (EI; Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, MSCEIT; Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory, EQ-i; Self-Rated Emotional Intelligence Scale, SREIS). Results indicated that IGT performance was more strongly associated with cognitive, than emotional, intelligence. To the extent that the IGT indeed mimics “real-world” decision-making, our findings, coupled with the results of existing research, may highlight the role of deliberate, cognitive capacities over implicit, emotional processes in contributing to at least some domains of decision-making relevant to everyday life.

Association study between COMT 158Met and creativity scores in bipolar disorder and healthy controls

Background Bipolar disorder (BD) patients have been reported to be associated higher creativity abilities, and recent data tend to support the hypothesis that dopaminergic system that could be associated with creativity. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is one of the major enzymes involved in the metabolic degradation of dopamine. The COMT gene polymorphism (rs4680 or Val158Met) Met allele is reported to cause decreased activity of this enzyme in prefrontal cortex and improve performance in several cognitive domains. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of Val158Met on creativity in BD type I and healthy controls. Methods Ninety-seven healthy volunteers and 120 BD type I were genotyped for COMT rs4680 and tested for creativity (Barrow Welsh Art Scale – BWAS) and intelligence Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). Results COMT Met allele positively influenced creativity scores in healthy controls but not in BD subjects during mood episodes and euthymia. The presence of allele Met did not influence IQ scores. No influence of IQ total score on creativity was observed. Limitations control group presented higher IQ scores and euthymic group was under medication use. Discussion Our research suggests positive effect of COMT rs4680 (allele Met) on creativity scores in healthy controls. One possible interpretation is that creativity is more likely to be associated with lesser degrees of bipolarity. The fact that the same results were not observed in BD may be associated to dysfunctions in the dopaminergic system that characterizes this disorder. Further studies with larger samples and other types of BD should explore the role of the dopaminergic system in creativity.

A magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) investigation into brain metabolite correlates of ability emotional intelligence

The neurobiological basis of Emotional Intelligence (EI), which relates to our cognitive capacity to deal with emotions, is yet to be firmly established; although the amygdala and the dlPFC have been identified as two key brain regions required for emotional understanding and management. While proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) has previously been used to examine the in vivo neurochemical processes associated with psychiatric disorders, personality and general intelligence, this technique is yet to be applied to the construct of EI. In the current study, associations between the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT V2.0), the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and Choline (Cho) concentrations in the amygdala and dlPFC were investigated in thirty healthy participants (15 males with a mean age of 24.9±2.7years; 15 females with a mean age of 25.2±4.5years). A significant association between left dlPFC Cho concentrations and MSCEIT Managing Emotions was found, together with a significant association between left Amygdala Cho concentration and MSCEIT Understanding Emotions. In contrast, NAA resonance was found to be unrelated to ability EI in these regions. Possible interpretations of increased Cho resonance in association with ability EI are discussed, including increased myelin turnover in the amygdala and dlPFC which contributes to enhanced emotional processing.

Relations between executive functions and academic achievements in primary school children

Although the relations between executive functions and academic achievement are considered widely proven, due to the methodological limitations of most studies little can be said about the relational importance of various executive functions for achievements in math, reading, and writing. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the role of different executive functions postulated by Miyake et al. (2000) (response inhibition, working memory updating, and mental set shifting) on academic achievements in math, reading, and writing as well as the possible mediation effects of cognitive (verbal and performance intelligence) and behavioral variables (learning-related behavior and hyperactivity). In total, 101 children were tested in the second grade of a primary school on nine simple computer tasks intended to predominantly tap one of the three executive abilities: response inhibition, mental set shifting, and working memory updating. In addition, all participants completed the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). The construct validity of the executive function tasks was established by a confirmatory factor analysis: consistent with other latent variable studies of executive function, the three target executive abilities proved to be separable and moderately correlated with each other (Miyake et al., 2000; Rose et al., 2011). Academic achievement was evaluated by a teacher’s report. The research variables of hyperactivity and learning-related behavior were composed using teachers’ answers to the questions from the Hyperactivity Scale of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the parents’ and teachers’ answers to additional questions concerning children’s learning-related behavior. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the structural relations of predictors (latent factors of response inhibition, memory updating, and mental set-shifting), mediators (verbal intelligence, performance intelligence, hyperactivity, and learning-related behavior) and dependent variables (math, reading and writing achievement scores). Executive functions proved to be important predictors of academic achievement in primary school. Working memory updating was directly related to achievements in reading (β = 0.69, p = 0.04) and writing (β = 0.71, p = 0,01). Response inhibition and mental set-shifting were related to math achievement through behavioral mediators: children with a better ability to regulate inappropriate responses showed fewer symptoms of hyperactivity (β = –0.42, p = 0.05), which in turn led to higher achievements in math (β = –0.40, p = 0.001); children with better mental set-shifting demonstrated more appropriate learning-related behaviors (β = 0.49, p = 0.05), while learning-related behaviors also predicted math achievements (β = 0.26, p = 0,04). In contrast, verbal and performance intelligence did not have any significant relation to academic achievements in primary school.

Cognitive Functioning and Insulin Regulation in Obese Youth

Background: There are data that suggest adiposity is associated with diminished cognitive functioning in adults and youth, independent of related co-morbidities. Little is known about the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with cognitive function in obese youth. The objective of the present study was to assess the associations among cognitive functioning and insulin regulation in a sample of obese youth. Methods: The sample consisted of 30 obese, non-diabetic youth (BMI > 95th percentile) ages 6-16 years (mean age = 12.60 years) referred to an outpatient pediatric endocrinology clinic. Youth were administered the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML-2). Results: Verbal memory, attention/concentration, and intelligence scores were similar across obese youth with elevated insulin levels and normal insulin levels. Obese youth with elevated insulin levels had lower scores in visual memory, with a medium effect (effect size = 0.51). Fasting insulin levels were not associated with any of the four cognitive domains in the multiple linear regression analysis (P > 0.05). Conclusions: These data provide preliminary evidence that visual memory may be impacted in obese youth with insulin resistance. Longitudinal studies examining insulin regulation, cognitive functioning, and weight status over time are needed.