Mental Rotation: The Effects of Processing Strategy, Gender and Task Characteristics on Children's Accuracy, Reaction Time and Eye Movements' Pattern

The effects of gender, strategy and task characteristics on children's mental rotation (MR) behavioral measures and eye movements were studied. Eye movements reflect thinking pattern and assist understanding mental rotation performance. Eighty-three fourth-grade children (44 boys and 39 girls) were administered the Computerized Windows Mental Rotation test (CWMR) while having their eye movements monitored and completed a Strategy Self-Report (global/local/combined) and a Spatial Span (WM) subtest. Difficulty level affected performance and was reflected in a different eye movement pattern. Boys were more accurate than girls, but they did not differ in their eye movement pattern. Eye movement pattern was related to strategy, accu-racy and reaction time, revealing that the global and combined strategy were more effective compared with local strategy. WM was found to correlate with accuracy at the easy level of the test. The usage of eye movement measures assists in elaborating our knowledge regarding MR performance among chil-dren and enable a wider understanding regarding the interaction between gender, strategy and difficulty level.

Parents' attitudes toward methylphenidate using n-of-1 trial: a pilot study

To compare parents' attitudes toward methylphenidate treatment in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder employing two approaches: (1) a 2-week double-blind placebo-drug trial (n-of-1 trial), (2) a traditional prescription approach. The study group (N-50) and a comparison group (N-45) were recruited. The Abbreviated Acceptability Rating Profile was administered prior to and following the pediatricians' consultation, and in 2, 4, and 8 weeks after prescription. Complete data set was available for 21 children in each group. While initial attitudes were similar, a significantly more favorable attitude following the performance of an n-of-1 trial and throughout the follow-up in the study group only was noted. Adherence was significantly correlated with attitude score in the study group only. An individual n-of-1 trial with methylphenidate appears to positively affect parents' attitudes toward drug treatment and may also help adherence with this treatment.