"Dichhaptic recognition of shapes and letters in children": Erratum.

Reports an error in "Dichhaptic recognition of shapes and letters in children" by Cheryl Gibson and M. P. Bryden (Canadian Journal of Psychology Revue Canadienne de Psychologie, 1983[Mar], Vol 37[1], 132-143). The legends for Figures 1 and 2 should read as follows: Figure 1: Verbal and nonverbal stimuli. Reprinted by permission from Laterality: Functional Asymmetry in the Intact Brain, by M.P. Bryden. New York: Academic Press, 1982. All rights reserved. Figure 2: Apparatus for dichhaptic presentation of verbal and nonverbal stimuli. Reprinted by permission from Laterality: Functional Asymmetry in the Intact Brain, by M.P. Bryden. New York: Academic Press, 1982. All rights reserved. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1984-00983-001.) Previous investigations of tactual asymmetry have generally used long presentation times and few have controlled responding order. The present study used dichhaptic presentation of letter and nonsense shapes, a 2-sec exposure time, and a controlled order of response to investigate tactual asymmetry in 40 8-, 10-, 12-, and 14-yr-olds. Ss were tested individually in a single session after being assigned to 1 of 2 groups. One group received the verbal material first, the other group the nonverbal material first. Nonsense shapes showed a significant left-hand superiority, whereas letters showed no consistent hand differences, suggesting that right hemisphere involvement was greater in the shapes task. No consistent age effects were found. The only significant sex differences involved a trend toward a greater left-hand (right-hemisphere) effect for males (N=20) than females on the shapes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of concurrent auditory input on tactual processing in very young children: Developmental changes.

Investigated right-hemispheric specialization for tactual processing in 96 2–5 yr old right-handed children. Cross-modal transfer from touch to vision was assessed under conditions where Ss palpated shapes with either their left or right hand while music was simultaneously played to the left ear, right ear, or neither ear. This task pitted music against palpation such that both tasks involved the same or different cerebral hemispheres (if music and haptic perception are both lateralized in the right hemisphere as is thought). Results show that in the absence of music, Ss at each age showed a left-hand (right-hemisphere) advantage. The adultlike patterns of ipsilateral interference from music were evident among 4- and 5-yr-olds, in that music to the left ear selectively disrupted left-hand performance. The adultlike pattern was absent at ages 2 and 3 yrs, and music to the right ear disrupted left-hand performance at these ages. Music had an overall, nonselective interference on right-hand performance at all ages. The early appearing left-hand advantage and the lateralized nature of the interference observed among older Ss support the idea of a right-hemispheric specialization for tactual processing of form in young children. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental changes in hemispheric specialization for tactual processing in very young children: Evidence from cross-modal transfer.

Examined whether young children show any evidence of right hemispheric specialization for tactual processing. 72 1-, 2-, and 3-yr-old right-handed children were each administered 6 cross-modal tasks in which they palpated a shape with either their left or right hand for 25 sec and then viewed the familiar and a novel shape in a 10-sec test of visual recognition. Although Ss of all 3 ages showed significantly more visual fixation to novel shapes, regardless of which hand had been used for palpation, scores were enhanced among 2- and 3-yr-olds following palpation with the left as compared with the right hand. This left-hand (right hemisphere) superiority was not evident in 1-yr-olds. These results are the first to demonstrate a left-hand superiority for information processing in children as young as 2 yrs and to suggest that this adultlike pattern is developed by at least the 2nd year of life. Left-hand superiority may be due to asymmetries in tactual sensitivity, motor control, and/or information processing. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lateral symmetry in the tactual perception of roughness.

Investigated whether tactual roughness perception is differentially lateralized in the cerebral hemispheres in 3 experiments with 76 18–31 yr old university students. Left- vs right-hand performance in the perception of roughness was assessed using 4 paradigms: unimanual 3-alternative forced choice (3-AFC), dichhaptic 3-AFC, comparative same–different judgment, and magnitude estimation. Results show that Ss consistently performed tactual roughness-perception tasks to an approximately equal degree with the left and right hands in all 4 experimental paradigms. Based on the assumption that equal perceptual performance by the left vs right hand indicates relative equality of the cerebral hemispheres, it is concluded that the tactual perception of roughness is laterally symmetrical in the left and right hemispheres. Findings are discussed in terms of the role of texture in Braille reading and of implications for theoretical and methodological issues in tactual roughness perception. (French abstract) (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct validity of material-specific memory measures following unilateral temporal lobe ablations.

Material-specific memory test performance of 18 left (LTL), and 11 right (RTL), unilateral temporal lobectomy patients was assessed pre- and 1 wk postsurgery. The Selective Reminding Test (H. Buschke and P. A. Fuld; see record 1975-07695-001) and the Serial Digit Learning Test (A. L. Benton et al, 1983) were the verbal, and the Complex Figure Test and the Form Sequence Learning Test (K. Hamster et al, 1983) were the nonverbal, learning measures. Following surgery, LTLs showed significant reductions on both verbal memory tests, but no significant decline was observed in RTLs on the nonverbal memory measures' summary scores. Results suggest that Selective Reminding and Serial Digit Learning tests are sensitive to left temporal lesions but that Complex Figure and Form Sequence Learning tests, and by extension other nonverbal learning tests, should be interpreted cautiously with respect to unilateral temporal lobe dysfunction. Reasons for the difficulty in finding "pure" measures of visual learning are discussed, and suggestions for future nonverbal memory test development are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Visual field differences in the recognition of verbal and nonverbal stimuli in man.

Tachistoscopically presented verbal and nonverbal stimuli to 16 normal right-handed 18-25 yr old males in the left and right visual fields. Verbal stimuli were 3-letter nonsense words. Nonverbal stimuli were 4 groups of random shapes in a 2 * 2 design in which the dimensions of verbal association value and complexity were independently varied to assess the influence of each as determinants of field differences. Results confirm earlier findings of a right-field superiority for verbal stimuli; however, a clear left-field superiority was found only for certain nonverbal stimuli (the high-complexity shapes). Association value produced a significant main effect but no differential field effect. Results are discussed in terms of the association between these field differences and reciprocal specialization of functions in the human cerebral hemispheres. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Strategic processing and episodic memory impairment in obsessive compulsive disorder.

There is evidence that nonverbal memory problems in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are mediated by impaired strategic processing. Although many studies have found verbal memory to be normal in OCD, these studies did not use tests designed to stress organizational strategies. This study examined verbal and nonverbal memory performance in 33 OCD patients and 30 normal control participants with the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test and the California Verbal Learning Test. OCD patients were impaired on verbal and nonverbal measures of organizational strategy and free recall. Multiple regression modeling indicated that free recall problems in OCD were mediated by impaired organizational strategies used during learning trials. Therefore, verbal and nonverbal episodic memory deficits in OCD are affected by impaired strategic processing. Results are consistent with neurobiological models proposing frontal-striatal system dysfunction in OCD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hand movement asymmetries during verbal and nonverbal tasks.

12 male and 12 female right-handed undergraduates were videotaped while they assembled blocks to perform a series of verbal and nonverbal tasks and a neutral (nonlateralized) task. Analysis of the videotapes revealed that the frequency of movement of one hand relative to the other changed systematically with the cognitive nature of the task, but only for movements playing a functional role in task performance. For the majority of such movements, verbal tasks elicited a greater proportion of right-hand use than did a neutral task, while nonverbal tasks elicited a greater proportion of left-hand use than did a neutral task. These shifts may have reflected the engagement of lateralized problem-solving systems within the 2 hemispheres. (French abstract) (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Continuity in tactual–visual cross-modal transfer: Infancy to 11 years.

The present study demonstrated that individual differences in cross-modal transfer showed continuity over a 10-year span. Tactual–visual tasks, requiring visual recognition of shapes that had previously been felt but not seen, were given to full-term and preterm children at 2 ages, 1 and 11 years. Cross-modal performance showed a left-hand advantage at 11 years and, for both groups, cross-age correlations were significant when tactual exploration at 11 years was done with the left hand (r?=?.34–.36). The continuity showed some specificity in that the infant measure did not relate to other types of cross-modal performance at 11 years and was not dependent on aspects of spatial ability involving form perception. This continuity accounted for most of the previously reported relation of infant cross-modal ability to 11-year IQ. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Structural equation model of intellectual change and continuity and predictors of intelligence in older men": Erratum.

Reports an error in the original article by D. P. Gold et al (Psychology & Aging, 1995 [Jun], Vol 10[2], 294–303. On page 300, Figure 2, an extra path was inadvertently included in the LISREL program analyzing the data. The correct model is presented. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1995-43339-001.) This study examined the effects of abilities as a young adult, an engaged lifestyle, personality, age, and health on continuity and change in intellectual abilities from early to late adulthood. A battery of measures, including a verbal and nonverbal intelligence (INT) test, was given to 326 Canadian army veterans. Archival data provided World War Two enlistment scores on the same INT test for this sample. Results indicated relative stability of intellectual scores across 40 years, with increases in vocabulary and decreases in arithmetic, verbal analogies, and nonverbal skills. Young adult INT was the most important determinant of older adult performance. Predictors for verbal INT were consistent with an engagement model of intellectual maintenance but also indicated the importance of introversion–extraversion and age. Nonverbal INT in late life was predicted by young adult nonverbal scores, age, health, and introversion–extraversion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Verbal abilities in young aggressive boys.

Academic failure and poor verbal abilities are commonplace in older children with aggressive behavior problems. The present study addressed the question of whether a similar pattern would be observed in young aggressive boys. A variety of verbal and nonverbal abilities were examined in 71 pairs of aggressive and normal boys in kindergarten-2nd grade. Significant differences favoring normals were observed on the WISC Information, Similarities, Block Design, Mazes, Performance IQ, and Full Scale IQ subscales; Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities Auditory Reception and Grammatic Closure subscales; and the Wide Range Achievement Test Reading subscale. Results do not indicate a generalized deficit in verbal development among young aggressive boys; however, findings support the interpretation that some deficit in mediational use of verbal ability may be present in aggressive boys. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Laterality: Functional asymmetry in the intact brain.

Reviews the book, Laterality: Functional asymmetry in the intact brain by M. P. Bryden (1982). Bryden's book is, first of all, an impressive review of the literature on laterality research with normal subjects, giving a well-organized and lucid expositon of a very large body of information (the citation list has close to 800 entries). In the process of reviewing the literature, however, the book does much more. It provides (a) a critical challenge to many of the practices and interpretations common in this area of research, together with guidelines for improving methodology in the future; (b) a thoughtful discussion of most of the major theoretical issues in the field, and (c) an argument for some of Bryden's own controversial proposals. The book is an impressive, important, and provocative contribution to the field; it is both a major sourcebook, filled with data, and a manifesto filled with challenging proposals. One may take issue with specific details, but this does not diminish one's excitement at finding such a rich and stimulating collection of ideas gathered in one place. The book is a "must read" for those involved in this area of research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Negativism in verbal and nonverbal responses of autistic children.

Studied negativism in 9 autistic, 9 behavior-disturbed, and 9 normal 5-12 yr olds in 3 different stimulus conditions (verbal requests for verbal responses, verbal requests for nonverbal responses, and nonverbal requests for nonverbal responses). Each condition included 2 tasks, which were requested 15 consecutive times. Ss demonstrated that they could perform the tasks before testing, and their responses were scored according to the similarity between the response and the request. Results demonstrate that the autistic and behavior-disturbed Ss responded similarly, except when requests required verbal responses, in which case the autistic Ss were much more negative. Results suggest applications to diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age-related changes in verbal and nonverbal memory during early childhood.

In the present experiment, age-related changes in verbal and nonverbal memory performance by 2- to 4-year-old children were assessed. All children participated in the same unique event, and their memory of that event was assessed after a 24-hr delay. Overall, children's performance on each memory measure increased as a function of age. Furthermore, children's performance on both the verbal and nonverbal memory tests was related to their language ability; children with more advanced language skills reported more during the verbal interview and exhibited superior nonverbal memory relative to children with less advanced language skills. Finally, children's verbal recall of the event lagged behind both their nonverbal recall and their general verbal skill. It is hypothesized that despite large strides in language acquisition, preschool-age children continue to rely primarily on nonverbal representations of past events. The findings have important implications for the phenomenon of childhood amnesia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-modal transfer and information processing by the sense of touch in infancy.

136 1-yr-old infants were tested on tasks of visual–tactual cross-modal transfer and tactual intramodal processing. In Exp I, Ss successfully differentiated novel from familiar objects by tactual exploration after 60 sec of either visual familiarization (V–T) or 60 sec of tactual familiarization (T–T); all testing that involved tactual exploration was carried out in total darkness, using infrared videotaping. In both tasks, Ss spent significantly more time manipulating novel than familiar shapes. In the T–T task they also engaged in more manipulatory episodes and exhibited more hand-to-hand transfers with the novel shapes. Neither type of transfer was shown with shorter (30-sec) familiarization periods. The finding of successful T–T transfer with 60-sec familiarization was confirmed in Exp II using different stimuli and a modified testing procedure. In both experiments there was evidence that T–T processing surpassed V–T transfer. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual differences in working memory and complex cognition.

The relations among assessments of working memory (WM) and a range of complex cognitive abilities were examined. In 2 experiments participants completed 2 WM tasks designed to assess verbal and nonverbal WM, as well as assessments of verbal intelligence, nonverbal intelligence, and academic achievement. Verbal WM had no relationship with nonverbal intelligence, whereas nonverbal WM had no relationship with verbal intelligence and academic achievement. A reanalysis of P. C. Kyllonen & R. E. Christal (see PA, Vol 78:32248; Experiment 1) is reported in which multiple indicators of WM were used to identify verbal and nonverbal WM factors; both of these WM factors were heavily saturated with a second-order factor, g (61% and 69%, respectively). Convergent and discriminant validation of the multidimensionality of WM was found in the patterns of correlations among the first-order Working Memory, General Knowledge, and Speed factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Asymmetrical cerebral function for two WAIS factors and their recovery after brain injury.

Investigated whether verbal factor scores of the WAIS would show more resilience in young adults than the nonverbal scores. Data from 119 servicemen with clearly lateralized brain injuries agree with those from other studies indicating resiliency for a verbal factor and the likelihood of some permanent impairment for a nonverbal factor after brain damage. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Strategy training has no significant effect on race differences in nonverbal reasoning.

Argues that the conclusion of B. Bridgeman and J. Buttram (see record 1975-30982-001) that race differences on a nonverbal reasoning test are smaller when Ss have been given verbal strategy training is not supported by their data. A transformation of their data from means to correlations indicates that the test used is psychometrically inadequate and that this finding may be generalizable to many nonverbal reasoning tests. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Functional cerebral asymmetry and sexual orientation in men and women.

Functional cerebral asymmetry was assessed in 32 gay men and 32 heterosexual men and in 30 lesbians and 30 heterosexual women with a linguistic dichotic listening test. All groups showed the typical greater right-ear accuracy and, by inference, left-hemisphere representation for language functions. As shown repeatedly in previous studies (e.g., M. P. Bryden, 1982), among heterosexuals, consistent-right-handers showed greater perceptual asymmetry than did nonconsistent right-handers. In contrast, gay men and lesbians did not show an association between hand preference and magnitude of perceptual asymmetry. The results indicate different patterns of functional cerebral asymmetry in gay men and lesbians compared with heterosexual people and, specifically, less association between motoric and linguistic components of cerebral asymmetry. This suggestion of atypical patterns of functional asymmetries is consistent with previous results of an increased prevalence of left-hand preference among gay men and lesbians compared with the heterosexual population. The finding of an association between aspects of functional asymmetry, a neurological characteristic likely present from birth, and sexual orientation suggests that a neurobiological factor is involved in the origins of sexual orientation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cerebral laterality in deaf and hearing children.

Studied the development of lateralization of cerebral function in 20 hearing and 20 prelingually deaf children using the concurrent task paradigm. Ss were aged 5–6 and 11–12 yrs; all were right-handed. Concurrent processing of a nonverbal task did not cause a selective hand impairment monitored by a manual tapping task. However, deaf Ss were more impaired than hearing Ss in both age groups. Using a concurrent verbal task, both groups manifested a selective impairment of right-hand performance. The deaf also showed a greater left-hand decrement than did the hearing Ss. This result suggests that hemispheric specialization may be less apparent in the deaf than in hearing children. The factor of cognitive task difficulty is suggested as an explanation of these results. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)