Coupling online control and inhibitory systems in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: Goal-directed reaching

For children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), the real-time coupling between frontal executive function and online motor control has not been explored despite reported deficits in each domain. The aim of the present study was to investigate how children with DCD enlist online control under task constraints that compel the need for inhibitory control. A total of 129 school children were sampled from mainstream primary schools. Forty-two children who met research criteria for DCD were compared with 87 typically developing controls on a modified double-jump reaching task. Children within each skill group were divided into three age bands: younger (6–7 years), mid-aged (8–9), and older (10–12). Online control was compared between groups as a function of trial type (non-jump, jump, anti-jump). Overall, results showed that while movement times were similar between skill groups under simple task constraints (non-jump), on perturbation (or jump) trials the DCD group were significantly slower than controls and corrected trajectories later. Critically, the DCD group was further disadvantaged by anti-jump trials where inhibitory control was required; however, this effect reduced with age. While coupling online control and executive systems is not well developed in younger and mid-aged children, there is evidence of age-appropriate coupling in older children. Longitudinal data are needed to clarify this intriguing finding. The theoretical and applied implications of these results are discussed.     

Cognitive training as a resolution for early executive function difficulties in children with intellectual disabilities

Core executive functions (EF) such as attention, and working memory have been strongly associated with academic achievement, language development and behavioral stability. In the case of children who are vulnerable to cognitive and learning problems because of an underlying intellectual disability, EF difficulties will likely exacerbate an already compromised cognitive system. The current review examines cognitive training programs that aim to improve EF, specifically focusing on the potential of this type of intervention for children who have intellectual disabilities. We conclude that despite considerable discrepancies regarding reported intervention effects, these inconsistencies can be attributed to flaws in both program and study design. We discuss the steps needed to address these limitations and to facilitate the advancement of non-pharmaceutical interventions for children with intellectual disabilities.     

癫痫患者执行功能损害特点及影响因素研究

目的分析癫痫患者执行功能损害的特点及相关影响因素。方法1999年1月～2006年4月在我院癫痫专病门诊就诊或长期随访的109例成年癫痫患者和75例正常对照者进行神经认知心理测验，包括语义流畅性试验、数字广度测验、数字符号测验、色词干扰测验和连线试验检查。结果癫痫患者组语义流畅性显著差于正常对照组，数字广度、数字符号亦显著低于正常对照组．癫痫组连线时间、Stroop试验反应时显著延长，Stroop试验错误数显著增加（P〈0．01）。颞叶癫痫患者数字广度低于额叶癫痫患者。多元线性回归显示：文化程度高、非颞叶癫痫对语义流畅性有保护作用：文化程度高、单一抗癫痫药物治疗、病程短、年龄大对数字广度有保护作用；病程短、文化程度高和颅内无病灶对数字符号有保护作用。结论癫痫患者在多项执行功能方面均存在损害．文化程度高的患者执行功能相对较好；颞叶癫痫患者语义流畅性差；病程、药物、年龄对数字广度有影响：病程、有无病灶对数字符号有影响。     

广东省城市社区卫生服务机构功能完善情况调查

目的 调查广东省不同组织形式的社区卫生服务机构功能完善情况。方法 采用问卷和现场检查的方式。结果 广东省城市社区卫生服务机构功能完善情况总体较好，但对某些服务功能如上级医院向下转诊、计划免疫工作的开展、配合计划生育工作等在不同组织形式中完善程度差异很大。结论 在社区卫生服务中，要进一步加强和完善健康教育进入社区、上级医院向下转诊、机构内计划免疫服务、家庭健康档案的建立等工作。     

An investigation of the neuropsychological profile in adults with velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS).

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is associated with deletions on the long arm of chromosome 22, mild intellectual disability, poor social interaction and a high prevalence of psychosis. However, to date there have been no studies investigating the neuropsychological functioning of adults with VCFS. We compared 19 adults with VCFS with 19 age, gender and IQ matched controls using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Compared to controls, adults with VCFS had significant impairments in visuoperceptual ability (Visual Object and Space Perception Battery), problem solving and planning (Tower of London) and abstract and social thinking (Comprehension WAIS-R). It is likely that haploinsufficiency (reduced gene dosage) of a neurodevelopmental gene or genes mapping to chromosome 22q11 underlies the cognitive deficits observed in individuals with VCFS.     

Executive functions processed in the frontal and lateral temporal cortices: Intracerebral study

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to investigate the neurocognitive network in the frontal and lateral temporal cortices that is activated by the complex cognitive visuomotor tasks of letter writing. METHODS: Eight epilepsy surgery candidates with implanted intracerebral depth electrodes performed two tasks involving the writing of single letters. The first task consisted of copying letters. In the second task, the patients were requested to write any other letter. The cognitive load of the second task was increased mainly by larger involvement of the executive functions. The task-related ERD/ERS of the alpha, beta and gamma rhythms was studied. RESULTS: The alpha and beta ERD as the activational correlate of writing of single letters was found in the sensorimotor cortex, anterior cingulate, premotor, parietal cortices, SMA and the temporal pole. The alpha and beta ERD linked to the increased cognitive load was present moreover in the dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex and surprisingly also the temporal neocortex. Gamma ERS was detected mostly in the left motor cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Particularly the temporal neocortex was activated by the increased cognitive load. SIGNIFICANCE: The lateral temporal cortex together with frontal areas forms a cognitive network processing executive functions.     

Chemical neuromodulation of frontal-executive functions in humans and other animals

Neuromodulation of frontal-executive function is reviewed in the context of experiments on rats, monkeys and human subjects. The different functions of the chemically identified systems of the reticular core are analysed from the perspective of their possible different interactions with the prefrontal cortex. The role of dopamine in spatial working memory is reviewed, taking account of its deleterious as well as facilitatory effects. Baseline-dependent effects of dopaminergic manipulation are described in rats on an attentional task, including evidence of enhanced function following infusions of D1 receptor agonists into the prefrontal cortex. The precise nature of the cognitive task under study is shown to be a powerful determinant of the effects of mesofrontal dopamine depletion in monkeys. Parallels are identified in human subjects receiving drugs such as the indirect catecholamine agonists L-dopa, methylphenidate and the dopamine D2 receptor blocker sulpiride. The effects of these drugs on different types of cognitive function sensitive to frontal lobe dysfunction are contrasted with those of a manipulation of 5-HT function, dietary tryptophan depletion. Hypotheses are advanced that accord the ascending systems a greater deal of specificity in modulating prefrontal cortical function than has hitherto been entertained, and clinical and theoretical implications of this hypothesis are discussed.     

Influence of disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate on vitamin D metabolism in rats

Summary The metabolism and the organ distribution of double labelled vitamin D₃ (1,2-³H-4-¹⁴C-cholecalciferol) has been studied in rats in which the bone mineralization and the intestinal calcium absorption have been inhibited by a large pose (10 mg P/kg s.c. for 7–14 days) of disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP). The most striking difference found was a reduced accumulation of radioactive cholecalciferol and its metabolites in the kidney of EHDP-treated rats. It is unlikely that this effect was due to an unspecific alteration of the functional renal tissue since blood urea, glomerular filtration rate and renal plasm a flow remained unaltered by this dose of EHDP. The EHDP-treated rats were able to form the metabolite eluted with peak IV of the silicic acid chromatographic system, that is 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. In these vitamin D repleted rats fed a high calcium diet, the tritium deficient metabolite eluted with peak V (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) was only found in the intestinal mucosa of both control and EHDP groups three days after the injection of radioactive cholecalciferol, and this in a very small amount. Therefore no definitive conclusion can be drawn as to a possible interference of EHDP treatment on the production of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. The change in the renal metabolism of vitamin D in rats treated with a rachitogenic dose of EHDP may be caused by the modifications of the calcium metabolism brought about by the diphosphonate. Its relation, if any, with the decreased calcium absorption remains to be established.     

精神分裂症的自知力与执行功能的关系

目的 :探讨精神分裂症患者的自知力与执行功能的关系。方法 :应用阴性和阳性症状量表 (PANSS) ,韦氏康量卡片分类测验 (WCST)对 6 3例精神分裂症的自知力及执行功能进行了评定。结果 :在WCST测验中自知力有损害组较自知力无损害组持续错误多 ,分类完成数少 ,具有显著差异性 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :精神分裂症自知力的恢复受执行功能水平的影响。     

工作记忆、执行功能、加工速度与数学障碍儿童推理和心算能力的关系

目的：探讨工作记忆、执行功能、加工速度与数学障碍儿童推理和心算能力的关系。方法：采用智力测验、成就测验、教师提名、学业成绩相结合的综合标准甑选数学障碍儿童，在长沙市三所小学随机选取4-6年级共12个班，从中抽取24名数学障碍儿壹和24名学习正常儿童。对两组儿童进行工作记忆、执行功能、加工速度以及数字推理、图案推理和心算测验。结果：数学障碍组的工作记忆、执行功能及加工速度测验成绩均屁著低于学习正常组（P〈0．001—0．05），数学障碍组数字推理、图案推理和心算成绩也湿著低于正常组；数字推理、图案推理及心算成绩与听觉工作记忆、视觉工作记忆、执行功能和加工速度均有显著相关；逐步回归分析结果显示，进入推理能力回归方程的自变量有听觉工作记忆和视觉工作记忆；进入心算的回归方程的是听觉工作记忆和加工速度。结论：数学障碍儿童存在工作记忆、执行功能和加工速度缺陷；数学障碍儿童的推理能力低于正常学习儿童，主要可由工作记忆能力不足来解释，而心算能力低下则可由听觉工作记忆和加工速度共同解释。