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Pasarín-Lavín T, García T, Abín A, Rodríguez C. Neurodivergent students. A continuum of skills with an emphasis on creativity and executive functions. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. CHILD 2024:1-13. [PMID: 39319695 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2024.2406914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
This study analyses Executive Functions (EF) and Creativity among neurodivergent students -including students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Intellectual Disability (ID), Giftedness-, and a group with Neurotypical development. A sample of 181 secondary school students participated in the study. Creativity was assessed by using the PIC-J test, focusing on verbal and figural components of divergent thinking, while EF were evaluated through Nesplora Ice-Cream, a virtual reality tool assessing flexibility, working memory, and inhibition. Results showed statistically significant differences in Verbal Creativity, especially in Originality: students with ADHD outperformed their Neurotypical peers, while those with ID showed the lowest scores. Although no statistically significant differences emerged in Figural Creativity, students with ADHD showed the lowest scores in Elaboration or Figural details, whereas those with Dyslexia exhibited high levels of Figural Originality, similar to their Neurotypical peers. Concerning EF, students with ID had the highest scores in Interference and Perseveration, indicating poorer Flexibility. In contrast, Gifted students performed better than the other groups in Working Memory, while students with ADHD did not exhibit special difficulties in EF. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized interventions for Neurodivergent students, that recognize and capitalize on their unique strengths while addressing specific challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Pasarín-Lavín
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Trinidad García
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Amanda Abín
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Celestino Rodríguez
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
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Ampollini S, Ardizzi M, Ferroni F, Cigala A. Synchrony perception across senses: A systematic review of temporal binding window changes from infancy to adolescence in typical and atypical development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105711. [PMID: 38729280 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Sensory integration is increasingly acknowledged as being crucial for the development of cognitive and social abilities. However, its developmental trajectory is still little understood. This systematic review delves into the topic by investigating the literature about the developmental changes from infancy through adolescence of the Temporal Binding Window (TBW) - the epoch of time within which sensory inputs are perceived as simultaneous and therefore integrated. Following comprehensive searches across PubMed, Elsevier, and PsycInfo databases, only experimental, behavioral, English-language, peer-reviewed studies on multisensory temporal processing in 0-17-year-olds have been included. Non-behavioral, non-multisensory, and non-human studies have been excluded as those that did not directly focus on the TBW. The selection process was independently performed by two Authors. The 39 selected studies involved 2859 participants in total. Findings indicate a predisposition towards cross-modal asynchrony sensitivity and a composite, still unclear, developmental trajectory, with atypical development associated to increased asynchrony tolerance. These results highlight the need for consistent and thorough research into TBW development to inform potential interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ampollini
- Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Borgo Carissimi, 10, Parma 43121, Italy.
| | - Martina Ardizzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39E, Parma 43121, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferroni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39E, Parma 43121, Italy
| | - Ada Cigala
- Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Borgo Carissimi, 10, Parma 43121, Italy
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Yin X, Zhang F, Bi C, Liu Y, Guo Y, Sun P, Hong J. Association between soybean product consumption and executive function in Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1348918. [PMID: 38487627 PMCID: PMC10937359 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1348918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This sought to explore the association between soybean product consumption and executive function (EF) in Chinese Tibetan adolescents in high-altitude areas. Methods A total of 1,184 Tibetan children and adolescents were tested on demographic variables, soybean product consumption, and executive function in Lhasa and Nagchu regions of Tibet, China, using stratified whole population sampling. One-way ANOVA, linear regression analysis, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the associations existing between soybean product consumption and executive function. Results The proportions of Hardly ever, Occasionally, and Often in Soy Consumption among Tibetan children and adolescents in high altitude areas of Tibet, China were 21.7, 50.3, and 28.0%, respectively. The difference in 2 back reaction time among Tibetan children and adolescents with different soybean product consumption was statistically significant (F = 6.374, p = 0.002). The difference in conversion function reaction time was also statistically significant (F = 8.129, p < 0.001). Taking the soybean product consumption ≥6 t/w group as the reference group, after adjusting the relevant factors, those with soybean product consumption ≤1 t/w showed a statistically significant increase in Inhibit Function Dysfunction (OR = 1.844, 95% CI: 1.152, 2.951) and Conversion Function Dysfunction (OR = 2.008, 95% CI: 1.106, 3.646) had an increased risk of Conversion Function Dysfunction (OR = 2.008, 95% CI: 1.106, 3.646), which was significantly different (p < 0.05). Conclusion There is an association between soybean product consumption and inhibitory control and translational flexibility of brain executive functions in Chinese Tibetan children and children and adolescents at high altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojian Yin
- Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cunjian Bi
- Sports Health Promotion Center, Chizhou University, Chizhou, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Physical Education College of Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaru Guo
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pengwei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Hong
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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Taran N, Farah R, Gashri C, Gitman E, Rosch K, Schlaggar BL, Horowitz-Kraus T. Executive functions-based reading training engages the cingulo-opercular and dorsal attention networks. Netw Neurosci 2023; 7:1452-1482. [PMID: 38144685 PMCID: PMC10727775 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a computerized executive functions (EFs)-based reading intervention on neural circuits supporting EFs and visual attention. Seed-to-voxel functional connectivity analysis was conducted focusing on large-scale attention system brain networks, during an fMRI reading fluency task. Participants were 8- to 12-year-old English-speaking children with dyslexia (n = 43) and typical readers (n = 36) trained on an EFs-based reading training (n = 40) versus math training (n = 39). Training duration was 8 weeks. After the EFs-based reading intervention, children with dyslexia improved their scores in reading rate and visual attention (compared to math intervention). Neurobiologically, children with dyslexia displayed an increase in functional connectivity strength after the intervention between the cingulo-opercular network and occipital and precentral regions. Noteworthy, the functional connectivity indices between these brain regions showed a positive correlation with speed of processing and visual attention scores in both pretest and posttest. The results suggest that reading improvement following an EFs-based reading intervention involves neuroplastic connectivity changes in brain areas related to EFs and primary visual processing in children with dyslexia. Our results highlight the need for training underlying cognitive abilities supporting reading, such as EFs and visual attention, in order to enhance reading abilities in dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Taran
- Educational Neuroimaging Group, Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Rola Farah
- Educational Neuroimaging Group, Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Carmel Gashri
- Educational Neuroimaging Group, Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ester Gitman
- Educational Neuroimaging Group, Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Keri Rosch
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bradley L. Schlaggar
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tzipi Horowitz-Kraus
- Educational Neuroimaging Group, Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Kato SK, Machado FA, Paganella MP, Gurgel LG, Kaiser V, Diaz GB, Serafini AJ, Filho NH, Reppold CT. A psychometric study of an executive function assessment instrument (TDI-FE). BMC Psychol 2023; 11:336. [PMID: 37838747 PMCID: PMC10576888 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01373-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aims to present and discuss the psychometric properties of executive functions, which were measured using the TDI-FE instrument. The analysis encompasses its internal structure, potential sensitivity to fatigue factors, relationships with external criteria, and diagnostic accuracy. METHODS The study sample comprised 382 students from Brazil, aged 6-8 years. Child development variables were screened using the TDI-FE and gold standard tests (Cancellation Attention and Trail Making Tests). The proposed scale comprised four activities: a test with fruit images with three tasks, and one memory game. RESULTS The one-factor model of EF of the TDI-FE failed to fit to the data. However, fit substantially improved once a latent fatigue factor was controlled in the model. The latent factor of EF assessed by the TDI-FE tasks was coherently associated with a series of external variables, including two popular collateral measures of EF. The diagnostic accuracy was reasonable, and a cut-off of 37 points produced 70% of sensitivity and 60% of specificity. CONCLUSION Results indicated that the TDI-FE demonstrated sound psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy, then consisting of an efficient alternative for the assessment of EFs in early childhood education. The study also proved the need to control for response biases such as fatigue in the latent variable models of EF. The TDI-FE is notable because of its low cost and easy application, and it might fulfill a need for instruments for individuals from different contexts at this stage of development in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Kakuta Kato
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Community Health Department, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences), Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- PUCRS. School of Technology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Life Sciences Knowledge Area, Institute for Health Researches, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Flávia Amaral Machado
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Machline Paim Paganella
- Life Sciences Knowledge Area, Institute for Health Researches, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, Brazil
| | - Leia Gonçalves Gurgel
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Kaiser
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Bertoletti Diaz
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Adriana Jung Serafini
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Nelson Hauck Filho
- Graduate School of Psychology, Universidade São Francisco, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Caroline Tozzi Reppold
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Carioti D, Stucchi NA, Toneatto C, Masia MF, Del Monte M, Stefanelli S, Travellini S, Marcelli A, Tettamanti M, Vernice M, Guasti MT, Berlingeri M. The ReadFree tool for the identification of poor readers: a validation study based on a machine learning approach in monolingual and minority-language children. ANNALS OF DYSLEXIA 2023; 73:356-392. [PMID: 37548832 PMCID: PMC10522748 DOI: 10.1007/s11881-023-00287-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we validated the "ReadFree tool", a computerised battery of 12 visual and auditory tasks developed to identify poor readers also in minority-language children (MLC). We tested the task-specific discriminant power on 142 Italian-monolingual participants (8-13 years old) divided into monolingual poor readers (N = 37) and good readers (N = 105) according to standardised Italian reading tests. The performances at the discriminant tasks of the "ReadFree tool" were entered into a classification and regression tree (CART) model to identify monolingual poor and good readers. The set of classification rules extracted from the CART model were applied to the MLC's performance and the ensuing classification was compared to the one based on standardised Italian reading tests. According to the CART model, auditory go-no/go (regular), RAN and Entrainment100bpm were the most discriminant tasks. When compared with the clinical classification, the CART model accuracy was 86% for the monolinguals and 76% for the MLC. Executive functions and timing skills turned out to have a relevant role in reading. Results of the CART model on MLC support the idea that ad hoc standardised tasks that go beyond reading are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiré Carioti
- DISTUM, Department of Humanities, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- Psychology Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Toneatto
- Psychology Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Franca Masia
- DISTUM, Department of Humanities, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Milena Del Monte
- DISTUM, Department of Humanities, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- Center of Developmental Neuropsychology, AST Pesaro-Urbino, Distretto di Pesaro, Pesaro, Italy
| | - Silvia Stefanelli
- DISTUM, Department of Humanities, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences, University of the Republic of San Marino, San Marino, Republic of San Marino
| | - Simona Travellini
- DISTUM, Department of Humanities, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- Center of Developmental Neuropsychology, AST Pesaro-Urbino, Distretto di Pesaro, Pesaro, Italy
| | - Antonella Marcelli
- Center of Developmental Neuropsychology, AST Pesaro-Urbino, Distretto di Pesaro, Pesaro, Italy
| | - Marco Tettamanti
- Psychology Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirta Vernice
- DISTUM, Department of Humanities, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | | | - Manuela Berlingeri
- DISTUM, Department of Humanities, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- Center of Developmental Neuropsychology, AST Pesaro-Urbino, Distretto di Pesaro, Pesaro, Italy
- NeuroMi, Milan Center for Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
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Di Giusto V, Purpura G, Zorzi CF, Blonda R, Brazzoli E, Meriggi P, Reina T, Rezzonico S, Sala R, Olivieri I, Cavallini A. Virtual reality rehabilitation program on executive functions of children with specific learning disorders: a pilot study. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1241860. [PMID: 37637891 PMCID: PMC10457143 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1241860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The application of Virtual Reality (VR) in the field of rehabilitation has been widely studied, because it has already proven to be an effective intervention for a variety of physical and cognitive conditions. Nevertheless, its application in pediatric rehabilitation is more recent. This pilot study aims to examine whether a VR-rehabilitation program may have positive effects on the Executive Functions (EFs) of children with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). Materials and methods Twenty-four children with diagnosis of SLD participated to the study (range 7-11 years) and performed the VR-training across 6 weeks in the CARE Lab, that was designed with appropriate structural measures and ad hoc fittings, to hide the sophisticated technology necessary to allow the child to experience a rehabilitative setting with recreational and semi-immersive features. Children were evaluated across three main time-points: T0, assessment of cognitive level and EFs immediately before the start of the intervention; T1, assessment of EFs immediately after the end of VR intervention; T2, follow-up of EFs after 6 months from the end of the VR intervention. The rehabilitation programs were customized according to clinical needs and/or single patient's characteristics, proposing different games with variable complexity levels. Results Results showed that scores for visual attention, inhibition, flexibility, and planning abilities were significantly higher than before the intervention, and the most part of these ameliorations were maintained after 6 months. Conclusion These findings provide important inputs for the development of new innovative rehabilitation interventions for children with SLD that must be founded in ecological and evidence-based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Purpura
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Tarjn Reina
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Sala
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
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Slaby RJ, Arrington CN, Malins J, Sevcik RA, Pugh KR, Morris R. Properties of white matter tract diffusivity in children with developmental dyslexia and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:25. [PMID: 37550628 PMCID: PMC10408076 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09495-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developmental dyslexia (DD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are highly comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders. Individuals with DD or ADHD have both been shown to have deficits in white matter tracts associated with reading and attentional control networks. However, white matter diffusivity in individuals comorbid with both DD and ADHD (DD + ADHD) has not been specifically explored. METHODS Participants were 3rd and 4th graders (age range = 7 to 11 years; SD = 0.69) from three diagnostic groups ((DD (n = 40), DD + ADHD (n = 22), and typical developing (TD) (n = 20)). Behavioral measures of reading and attention alongside measures of white matter diffusivity were collected for all participants. RESULTS DD + ADHD and TD groups differed in mean fractional anisotropy (FA) for the left and right Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus (SLF)-Parietal Terminations and SLF-Temporal Terminations. Mean FA for the DD group across these SLF tracts fell between the lower DD + ADHD and higher TD averages. No differences in mean diffusivity nor significant brain-behavior relations were found. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that WM diffusivity in the SLF increases along a continuum across DD + ADHD, DD, and TD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Slaby
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
- GSU/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, 831 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Dell' Ateneo Nuovo,1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - C Nikki Arrington
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
- GSU/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, 831 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318, USA.
- Georgia State University, Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, 55 Park Place, 18th Floor, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
| | - Jeffrey Malins
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
- GSU/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, 831 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318, USA
| | - Rose A Sevcik
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Kenneth R Pugh
- Yale University, Haskins Laboratories, 300 George Street, Suite 900, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Robin Morris
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
- GSU/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, 831 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318, USA
- Georgia State University, Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, 55 Park Place, 18th Floor, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
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Elhakeem ES, Ibrahim SAEA, El-Maghraby RM, Fouad AAEA. Application of a rehabilitation program for executive functions in a sample of Egyptian children with learning disorder. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY 2023; 39:32. [PMCID: PMC9896432 DOI: 10.1186/s43163-023-00391-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Background In recent years, significant progress has been made on ways to improve executive function (EF) skills for school readiness involving direct EF training and classroom educational programs. Due to the absence of a well-structured Arabic program for EF training in children, the rationale of this study is to implement a comprehensive, evidence-based intervention program to help Egyptian children with learning disorders to overcome their EF impairment. It uses the multimodality approach to help meet the needs of students with a variety of learning styles. The aim of this study is to adapt the combined form of the “Executive Functions Training-Elementary” and the “Promoting Executive Function In The Classroom” programs and its application to test its effectiveness in the rehabilitation of Egyptian learning-disordered children. Results The results showed significant improvement in the Arabic version of Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale, Children and Adolescents long-form (BDEFS-CA) scores for executive functions (EF) evaluation (executive function summery score from 228.63 to 213.77 with p -value < 0.001), and it also showed significant improvement in the Arabic dyslexia assessment test (ADAT) scores (from 1.89 to 1.33 with p -value < 0.001) for dyslexia evaluation. Conclusion The study concluded that designing an Arabic rehabilitation program specific for executive function difficulties was effective for improving both EF deficits and dyslexia, but there is a need for further studies comparing this program to other methods of traditional interventions. Trial registration The study was retrospectively registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT05476133, approved on 26 July 2022. Register name is the following: application of a rehabilitation program for executive functions in a sample of Egyptian children with learning disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Engy Samy Elhakeem
- Unit of Phoniatrics, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | | | - Riham Mohamed El-Maghraby
- Unit of Phoniatrics, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Abd El Aal Fouad
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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Taha J, Carioti D, Stucchi N, Chailleux M, Granocchio E, Sarti D, De Salvatore M, Guasti MT. Identifying the risk of dyslexia in bilingual children: The potential of language-dependent and language-independent tasks. Front Psychol 2022; 13:935935. [PMID: 36506974 PMCID: PMC9730291 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.935935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the linguistic processing and non-linguistic cognitive abilities of monolingual and bilingual children with and without reading difficulties and examines the relationship between these skills and reading. There were 72 Italian-speaking children: 18 monolingual good readers (MONO-GR, Mage = 10;4), 19 monolingual poor readers (MONO-PR, Mage = 10;3), 21 bilingual good readers (BI-GR, Mage = 10;6), and 16 bilingual poor readers (BI-PR, Mage = 10;6). All bilingual children spoke Italian as their L2. Children completed a battery of standardized Italian reading tests, language-dependent tasks: nonword repetition (NWR), sentence repetition (SR), and phonological awareness (PA), and language-independent tasks: timing anticipation, beat synchronization, inhibition control, auditory reaction time, and rapid automatized naming (RAN). Poor readers scored below good readers on the language-dependent tasks, including NWR, PA, and SR. Beat synchronization was the only language-independent task sensitive to reading ability, with poor readers showing greater variability than good readers in tapping to fast rhythms. SR was the only task influenced by language experience as bilinguals underperformed monolinguals on the task. Moreover, there were weak to moderate correlations between performance on some language-dependent tasks (NWR, PA), language-independent tasks (inhibition control, RAN), and reading measures. Performance on the experimental tasks (except for RAN) was not associated with the length of exposure to Italian. The results highlight the potential of NWR, PA, SR, and beat synchronization tasks in identifying the risk of dyslexia in bilingual populations. Future research is needed to validate these findings and to establish the tasks' diagnostic accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhayna Taha
- Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Desire Carioti
- Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Natale Stucchi
- Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Mathilde Chailleux
- Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Granocchio
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Sarti
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Marinella De Salvatore
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Guasti
- Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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Taran N, Farah R, DiFrancesco M, Altaye M, Vannest J, Holland S, Rosch K, Schlaggar BL, Horowitz-Kraus T. The role of visual attention in dyslexia: Behavioral and neurobiological evidence. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:1720-1737. [PMID: 34981603 PMCID: PMC8886655 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor phonological processing has typically been considered the main cause of dyslexia. However, visuo‐attentional processing abnormalities have been described as well. The goal of the present study was to determine the involvement of visual attention during fluent reading in children with dyslexia and typical readers. Here, 75 children (8–12 years old; 36 typical readers, 39 children with dyslexia) completed cognitive and reading assessments. Neuroimaging data were acquired while children performed a fluent reading task with (a) a condition where the text remained on the screen (Still) versus (b) a condition in which the letters were being deleted (Deleted). Cognitive assessment data analysis revealed that visual attention, executive functions, and phonological awareness significantly contributed to reading comprehension in both groups. A seed‐to‐voxel functional connectivity analysis was performed on the fluency functional magnetic resonance imaging task. Typical readers showed greater functional connectivity between the dorsal attention network and the left angular gyrus while performing the Still and Deleted reading tasks versus children with dyslexia. Higher connectivity values were associated with higher reading comprehension. The control group showed increased functional connectivity between the ventral attention network and the fronto‐parietal network during the Deleted text condition (compared with the Still condition). Children with dyslexia did not display this pattern. The results suggest that the synchronized activity of executive, visual attention, and reading‐related networks is a pattern of functional integration which children with dyslexia fail to achieve. The present evidence points toward a critical role of visual attention in dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Taran
- Educational Neuroimaging Group, Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Rola Farah
- Educational Neuroimaging Group, Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Mark DiFrancesco
- Imaging Research Center, Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Mekibib Altaye
- Imaging Research Center, Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jennifer Vannest
- Imaging Research Center, Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Keri Rosch
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Bradley L Schlaggar
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tzipi Horowitz-Kraus
- Educational Neuroimaging Group, Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion, Haifa, Israel.,Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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The Effect of Brain Training on Suppression of Theta/Alpha Ratio and Working Memory of 8 to 12 year old Children with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.52547/jcp.9.3.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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13
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Leśniak E, Grzybowski SJ. The Role of Emoticons in the Comprehension of Emotional and Non-emotional Messages in Dyslexic Youth - A Preliminary Study. Front Psychol 2021; 12:693287. [PMID: 34421745 PMCID: PMC8374149 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The study explored how well-dyslexic youth deals with written messages in an environment simulating popular social network communication system. The messaging systems, present more and more in pandemic and post-pandemic online world, are rich in nonverbal aspects of communicating, namely, the emoticons. The pertinent question was whether the presence of emoticons in written messages of emotional and non-emotional content changes the comprehension of the messages. Thirty-two pupils aged 11–15 took part in the study, 16 had a school-approved diagnosis of dyslexia and were included in the experimental group. Sixteen controls had no diagnosed disabilities. Both groups viewed short messages of four types (each including seven communicates): verbal-informative (without emoticons and emotional verbal content), verbal-emotive (without emoticons, with emotional verbal content), emoticon-informative (including emoticon-like small pictures, but without emotional content either verbal or nonverbal), and emoticon-emotive (with standard emoticons and including verbal-emotional content). The participants had to answer short questions after quick presentation of each message that tested their comprehension of the content. RTs and accuracy of the answers were analyzed. Students without dyslexia had shorter response times to the questions regarding all types of messages than the dyslexic participants. The answers of the experimental group to the questions about the emoticon-informative messages were less correct. The study pointed tentatively to the beneficial role of emoticons (especially the nonstandard, i.e., of non-emotional kind) in reading short messages with understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Leśniak
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Szczepan J Grzybowski
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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Aguilar-Mediavilla E, Guirado-Moreno JL, Sánchez-Azanza V, Adrover-Roig D, Valera-Pozo M. Intervención en el control inhibitorio en niños con y sin trastorno de lenguaje dentro del aula. REVISTA DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN LOGOPEDIA 2021. [DOI: 10.5209/rlog.69256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el impacto de una intervención escolar en control inhibitorio llevada a cabo dentro de diversas aulas de segundo ciclo de primaria (9-11 años) que tenían alumnos con Trastorno del Desarrollo del Lenguaje (n = 5) o dislexia (n = 4) y sus compañeros de aula sin dificultades (n = 6). El diseño siguió un modelo pre-post intervención con las variables dependientes fluidez verbal, memoria fonológica y control inhibitorio. La intervención consistió en ocho sesiones de 10 minutos a todo el grupo clase, dos por semana durante cuatro semanas, más una sesión larga de 1 hora en grupo pequeño en medio de las sesiones, en las que se realizaba actividades basadas en diferentes tareas de control inhibitorio (“Stroop”, “Go-no go”, “Plots”, “Simon”,…). Los niños con TDL y dislexia mostraron una puntuación más baja en memoria fonológica antes de la intervención. La intervención sólo tuvo efecto en una leve mejora en todos los grupos en la memoria fonológica. Sin embargo, las comparaciones entre los grupos post-intervención mostraron puntuaciones significativamente más bajas en el grupo TDL respecto a los otros dos en fluencia verbal y control inhibitorio, que pueden indicar una posible mejoría de los grupos de dislexia y sin dificultades en estas variables. En conclusión, la intervención tuvo un escaso efecto, especialmente en el grupo con TDL. Se requieren más trabajos con un mayor número de participantes y de sesiones de intervención para poder corroborar la falta de efecto específico sobre el control inhibitorio y la fluencia verbal en los grupos intervenidos.
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