Relations between infant behavior ratings and concurrent and subsequent mental test scores.

125 Mexican-American infants of lower socioeconomic status were administered the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 12 and 24 mo of age; 66 of these Ss were later given the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale at 36 mo of age. Results indicate that when behavioral clusters are derived in the fashion used by A. Metheny et al (1974), similar findings emerge from the correlational analyses with the exception of a somewhat higher prediction from Extraversion scores in the present report. When behavioral factors were derived by a principal-components analysis, however, it was found that 5 factors that differed substantially in structure from the composites proposed by Matheny et al emerged from the analysis. Multiple regression analyses revealed that neither the factor scores from the principal components nor the composite scores for Primary Cognition and Extraversion added significantly to the prediction of subsequent Mental Performance beyond what was afforded by 12-mo Bayley Mental Development Index scores. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measures of infant development and socioeconomic status as predictors of later intelligence and school achievement.

A study of 1,382 Ss normally distributed on measures of IQ and socioeconomic status (SES) found that low scores (bottom 5%) on the Bayley Infant Scale of Mental Development administered at 8 mo were associated with low performance on measures of intelligence and academic achievement at 4–9 yrs of age, whereas average or high Bayley scores were less clearly predictive of later development. SES was a better single predictor of outcome variables than was the Bayley, with the Bayley adding little to the amount of variance accounted for by SES alone. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Infant auditory discrimination in preterm and full-term infants as a predictor of 5-year intelligence.

Examined the relation between responsiveness to auditory novelty in full-term and preterm infants at 4 mo and subsequent intellectual performance at 5 yrs of age. At 4 mo, cardiac response to repetitive and novel auditory stimulation was assessed using a variable-trials habituation procedure for 9 full-term and 19 preterm infants. Ss were followed until the age of 5 yrs, and intellectual performance was measured using the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. A statistically significant correlation of .60 was found between infant novelty response scores and 5-yr intelligence scores. Mother's education also related to 5-yr performance, although not significantly when the novelty response was partialed out. Results suggest that measures of early perceptual-memory development may reflect early cognitive processes necessary for later intellectual performance. Within the preterm group, there was a sample of male infants with below-average intelligence at 5 yrs. These Ss failed to respond to novelty, and their mothers had not completed high school. Thus, a subsample of high-risk Ss can be identified early in life. A significant positive relation was also found between scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and intelligence at 5 yrs of age. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral correlates of mental growth: Birth to thirty-six years.

Reports findings of the Berkeley (California) Growth Study, a 36-yr longitudinal study of mental development. 74 full-term, healthy infants of White English-speaking parents, were studied over 7 mo. 63 Ss were followed for at least 3 yrs, 48 Ss were seen regularly over 18 yrs, and 54 Ss were interviewed and tested at age 36 yrs. Measures included newly developed tests of 1st-yr mental precocity, the Block Q-Sort, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). Results reflect stability over the 36 yrs in both personality variables and mental abilities. Boys' high verbal scores correlated with calmness, positive responsiveness, and activeness: Girls' high verbal scores correlated with shyness at 10–24 mo and possibly unhappiness at 10–22 mo. While boys' behaviors and intelligence correlated with maternal behavior in the 1st 3 yrs through age 18 yrs, girls' corresponded to parental abilities. This suggests that girls are more resilient and less permanently affected by early experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mental development: Concordance for same-sex and opposite-sex dizygotic twins.

Administered the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities, and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence to 375 same-sex and opposite-sex dizygotic (DZ) twins from 3 mo–6 yrs of age. With 1 exception (9 mo), there was no significant difference in concordance at any age for same-sex and opposite-sex twins. In both groups, the within-pair correlations increased during early childhood to a maximum value at 3 yrs, then gradually regressed at 6 yrs. Data provide no evidence of greater discordance among opposite-sex twins for mental development in the preschool years. It is concluded that sex differences may be set aside as a nonsignificant factor in the concordance estimates for DZ twins. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Promoting child development through a program of home visiting.

Conducted a research program combining material rehabilitation with intensive infant intervention covering all-day, 5-days/wk, 12 mo/yr from 3 mo of age until 6 yrs. 58 experimental Ss 1-24 mo of age at recruitment and controls 1-18 mo of age at recruitment were used. A pervasive decline across all subscales of R. Griffiths' (1954, 1970) Scales of Mental Development at 6-mo intervals plus a growing dissatisfaction with the research design led to the author's decision to terminate the project 2 yrs earlier than planned. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pre- and postbirth antecedents of 2-year-old attention, capacity for relationships, and verbal expressiveness.

46 families were followed from midpregnancy to child age 2 yrs. At midpregnancy mothers were interviewed and completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Various forms of data were collected at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 mo postbirth, including observations in the home and infant assessment, using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Results indicate that the pattern of antecedents and correlates differed as a function of the criteria chosen. Thus, the 2-yr-olds' attention was not significantly influenced by the concurrent parent stimulation of cognitive and verbal experiences, but the most impressive determinants consisted of 2 forms of early child behavior, 1-mo positive vocalization and 6-mo attention, as well as prebirth maternal IQ. By contrast, the 2-yr-olds' modulation of aggression was not only an integral part of a concurrent set of relationship variables but the significant antecedents stressed prebirth parent characteristics having a high potential for promoting a positive, emotionally responsive relationship with the child (warmth, adaptation–competence, husband–wife adaptation), whereas the postbirth antecedents were highlighted by parents responding successfully to the needs of an increasingly soothable infant. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Infant perceptual, cognitive, and motor behaviours as predictors of subsequent cognitive and language development.

In a longitudinal study, 80 preterm and 68 full-term infants were administered the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 mo; the Uzgiris-Hunt Scale at 4, 8, 12, and 18 mo; the Caldwell Inventory of Home Stimulation (HOME) at 12 mo; the Reynell Language Scales at 24, 30, and 36 mo; and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale at 30 and 36 mo. There were significant correlations between the early infants tests and the Stanford-Binet and the Reynell Language Scales at 30 and 36 mo, indicating continuities in cognitive development. The perceptual items of the Bayley were significant predictors early in development; at 8 mo the conceptual items became predictive, and at 12 mo the language items became predictive. The Psychomotor Development Index of the Bayley and the Means and Object Concept subtests of Uzgiris-Hunt administered at 4 and 8 mo were significantly correlated with subsequent language development. The HOME scale was significantly correlated with cognitive and language scores, particularly language comprehension. There appear to be substantial continuities between infant behaviors and cognitive and language abilities in early childhood. (French abstract) (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mother–infant interaction and the development of individual differences in children's cognitive competence.

Assessed the antecedents of individual differences in children's cognitive/language competence at age 24 mo using multivariate methods at ages 6, 13, and 24 mo in 121 Ss. Assessments included detailed observations of mother–children interaction, standardized tests of child cognitive development (including the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment and the Bayley Mental Scale of Infant Development), and examiner and maternal ratings of child sociability. There were meaningful patterns of continuity in the child and especially mother behavior factors across ages, and mother–child warm, verbal interactions at each age were associated with a composite index of child competence at 24 mo. A path analysis showed that altogether, 40% of the variance in competence outcome was explained by the 4 variables in the model (interaction at 3 ages and SES). The analysis also showed that the original bivariate correlation between interaction at 6 mo and later competence could be explained by continuity in interaction qualities at 6 and 24 mo rather than as a direct effect. However, the 13-mo interaction showed both a direct path to competence and an indirect one via age 24-mo interaction. SES had a modest significant correlation with competence, but in the path analysis this was dissipated in nonsignificant paths to the interaction variables. Partial correlations suggested that child developmental competence and sociability at earlier ages did not mediate the relationships between mother–infant interaction and later child competence. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rapid assessment of infant predictors of adult IQ: Midtwin-midparent analyses.

Assessed infant predictors of adult IQ with same-sex infant twins (114 pairs) and their parents. The midtwin–midparent design permits the rapid assessment of infant measures to predict later behavior, because the midparent score serves as a proxy for the infant's potential score at maturity. At 5, 7, and 9 mo, Ss were observed on the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence, hand preference, vocalizations, selected Bayley Scales of Infant Development items, and a modified Bayley Infant Behavior Record. At 8 mo, Ss received the Visual Expectation Paradigm and an auditory discrimination task. Their parents received the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R). Some infant measures, indicative of information processing, language ability, and temperament, predicted midparent IQ. This study extended and partially replicated findings from a previous midtwin–midparent cohort (L. F. DiLalla et al; see record 1991-04066-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What are we testing?

A measure that samples both the sophistication of infants' behaviors and infants' propensity to demonstrate their most sophisticated repertoire of skills was developed and tested for predictability of infant functioning across a 6-mo time span. This measure of spontaneous mastery, unlike a measure of executive capacity with which it is compared, was highly stable across 6 mo. Spontaneous mastery scores of 38 12-mo-olds predicted 18-mo-old performance on the Mental Development Index (MDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development as well as the Bayley scale itself. Common to both the spontaneous mastery measure and the Bayley MDI is the construct of mastery leading toward developmental competence, suggesting that the more proficient children are at mastering tasks on their own, the more inclined they might be to maximize their potentials in testing and learning environments. The greater predictability of the spontaneous mastery measure suggests a means for elucidating individual differences in the motivation–competence relationship that remain stable across developmental epochs. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Early home environment and changes in mental test performance in children from 6 to 36 months.

Administered the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 6 mo and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale at 3 yrs to 77 normal children. When each S was 6 mo old, the family was observed and interviewed using the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME), a measure of the quality of stimulation in the early environment. A difference of 21 or more points between a S's 6-mo Bayley Mental Development Index score and 3-yr Stanford-Binet score was used to determine whether the S had increased, remained stable, or decreased in mental test performance. Multiple discriminant analyses were done using the 6 subscales of the HOME inventory to differentiate among increasers, nonchangers, and decreasers. Increases in test performance were related to 2 subscales, Maternal Involvement with Child and Provision of Appropriate Play Materials. Decreases were related to inadequate Organization of Physical and Temporal Environment. Results indicate that home environment may contribute to instability of performance on infant tests. Results are in agreement with the findings of R. B. McCall et al (see record 1975-04922-001) regarding gains for 21/2-17 yr olds, except that the parents' method of discipline may not be quite so important for infants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Infant attention in relation to intellectual abilities in childhood.

Infant attention was observed at term and 4 mo of age in 93 preterm infants who were tested with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC—R) at 8 yrs of age. Results show that for the term measure, total fixation time on the first 1-min trial to a repeated 2 by 2 checkerboard was negatively related to the childhood intelligence assessments for the entire sample and for the subset of Ss (n?=?61) from English-speaking families. For the 4-mo measure, the percentage of decrement in 1st fixation time over 1 min of repeated presentations of a 24 by 24 checkerboard was positively correlated with IQ scores for the English-speaking subsample. It is concluded that preterm infants who continued to fixate an unchanging stimulus for protracted periods of time were less intellectually able in childhood. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Twins: Mental development in the preschool years.

Obtained measures of mental development (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Bayley Scales of Infant Development, and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale) for a large sample of over 350 pairs of twins from 11/2 to 6 yrs of age. Initially the twins were somewhat depressed in developmental status, but they ultimately reached parity with singletons by age 6. The age-to-age predictive correlations followed the typical simplex pattern of declining as the age span increased but still remained higher for the Bayley Scales than had previously been reported. Sex differences were also noted for the pattern of age-to-age correlations. Monozygotic twins were significantly more concordant than dizygotic twins for the measures of mental development at each age and for the changes in relative precocity between ages to age 5. By that age, the measures of intelligence had stabilized to the point where year-to-year changes were no longer a significant source of variance. Parental education and socioeconomic status gave modest positive correlations with the twins' IQ scores at age 6. Results point to the genetic blueprint as the principal determinant of childhood mental development for the broad range of home environments represented in this study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Risk and resilience in early mental development.

Examined mental development scores for 2 groups of at-risk twins throughout their childhood, those classified as small for gestational age (SGA), and those twins falling below 1,750 g birthweight. The Ss were recruited as newborns—about 30 new pairs were added each year—and the total sample included 450 pairs of twins. Ss were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at age 24 mo and the WPPSI at age 6 yrs. Results show that the SGA Ss showed only a modest deficit in IQ scores as compared to the full twin Ss, and thus these small-for-date Ss did not appear to be at special risk. The Ss below 1,750 g, however, did show a very significant deficit in IQ scores throughout childhood. When the recovery patterns were examined for this group, upper SES Ss appeared to recover completely, whereas lower SES Ss remained significantly depressed. Mother's education was significantly related to recovery from 24 mo onward, which suggests that maternal intelligence plays a prominent role in determining the level of recovery. When monozygotic Ss of markedly unequal birth weight were compared, the twins who weighed less than 1,750 g attained the same level of IQ scores at 6 yrs as did their heavier co-twins. Among these genetic replicates, the initially powerful effects of low birth weight did not exert a long-term handicapping effect on mental development. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abstinence or controlled drinking goals for problem drinkers: A randomized clinical trial.

24 adult problem drinkers were assigned to brief behavioral treatment with either an abstinence (AB) or a controlled drinking (CD) goal. Self-report and collateral report data reflect significant overall reduction in alcohol consumption and projected blood alcohol peaks at 3-mo and at 3.5-yr follow-up intervals. AB and CD Ss did not differ significantly from each other on outcome variables at any point before or after treatment. At 3.5 yrs, 4 Ss had been abstinent for at least 12 mo, 3 had been moderate and asymptomatic drinkers for at least 12 mo, 5 were improved but still somewhat impaired, 8 were unimproved, 3 refused to be interviewed, and 1 could not be located. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bilateral frontal lobe disease and selective delayed response deficits in humans.

Compared the performance of 6 male patients (aged 24–65 yrs) with frontal lobe disease; 17 amnesic male patients (12 with etiology of alcoholic Korsakoff's disease [mean age 53.6 yrs] and 5 with surgically treated ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm [mean age 45.6 yrs]), and 12 male alcoholic controls (mean age 39.7 yrs) with no memory impairment on delayed alternation (DA) and delayed response (DR) tasks, known to be sensitive to frontal lobe damage in nonhuman primates. Ss (except the Korsakoff and alcoholic Ss) completed the Wechsler Memory Scale, and all Ss completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Results show that bilateral frontal lobe damage was associated with impairment on both tasks. There was no relation between performances on DA and DR and performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale, strengthening the suggestion that the former tasks are not sensitive to anterograde amnesia in humans. (41 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental Outcome of Drug-Exposed Children Through 30 Months: A Comparison of Bayley and Bayley-II.

This study examined the effects of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) version on developmental outcomes among drug-exposed children, some of whom received an intervention. Developmental outcome was evaluated with the BSID at 12 and 18 months and with the BSID-II at 24 and 30 months. In the repeated measures analyses, children scored higher on the BSID Mental Developmental Index (MDI; p     

Neuropsychological performance and positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

Examined cognitive functions in 11 positive-symptom (mean age 36 yrs), 10 negative-symptom (mean age 33.8 yrs), and 23 mixed-symptom (mean age 31.4 yrs) schizophrenics; 15 bipolar patients (mean age 34.7 yrs); and 12 normal controls (mean age 34.8 yrs) to explore the relation between symptoms and performance. Ss were administered a neuropsychological test battery including the Purdue Pegboard, the Revised Visual Retention Test, and the Block Design subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R). Group comparisons revealed generalized deficits in schizophrenics. Positive-symptom schizophrenics scored below normal Ss and negative-symptom Ss on 2 measures tapping verbal memory. Multiple regression analyses revealed that negative symptom ratings were inversely associated with performance on visual-motor tasks, whereas positive symptoms were inversely associated with verbal memory performance. Findings are not consistent with the notion that cognitive deficits are uniquely associated with negative symptoms. Instead, results suggest that there may be specific cognitive correlates of both the positive and negative symptom dimensions. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuropsychological parameters of carotid endarterectomy: A two-year prospective analysis.

To investigate the long-term effects of carotid endarterectomy (CE), 3 groups were studied: (a) 36 patients (mean age 61.1 yrs) receiving CE, (b) 17 patients (mean age 57.9 yrs) with carotid artery disease receiving medical management, and (c) general surgical controls (mean age 55.3 yrs). The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Wechsler Memory Scale, and the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery were administered prior to surgery and at 6 mo and 2 yrs after surgery. Two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant main effect for trials on a majority of the neuropsychological measures, including the Average Impairment Rating. However, on baseline and on both follow-up evaluations, the CE Ss did not differ significantly from the carotid disease patients who received medical management. Findings fail to support the usefulness of CE in improving mentation or the quality of life in carotid disease patients. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)