scholarly journals Are the Effects of Variation in Quantity of Daily Bilingual Exposure and Socioeconomic Status on Language and Cognitive Abilities Independent in Preschool Children?

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4570
Author(s):  
Raffaele Dicataldo ◽  
Maja Roch
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Narrative Comprehension ◽  
Specific Contribution ◽  
Mind Task

Bilingual exposure (BE) and socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with children’s development, but their specific and unique effects are still unclear. This study analyzed the influence of these environmental factors on a set of cognitive and linguistic abilities in preschoolers to disentangle their effects. One hundred-eleven Italian-speaking preschool children (mean age = 61 months; SD = 6.8) growing in a monolingual or multilingual context completed an assessment of cognitive (theory of mind, inhibition, attention shifting and working memory) and linguistic abilities (vocabulary, grammar, narrative comprehension, lexical access). The results of hierarchical regressions with predictors variation in BE (both Length and Daily exposure) and SES on each ability, shown a specific contribution of variation in SES, after controlling for BE, in vocabulary, grammar, and working memory (WM), and a specific contribution of variation in BE, over and above effect of SES, in vocabulary, narrative comprehension and WM. In addition, we found an interaction between these factors in predicting the performance of the theory of mind task (ToM). To conclude, variations in BE and SES are related independently to individual differences in linguistic and cognitive skills of children in preschool.

scholarly journals Predictive context biases binocular rivalry in children and adults with no positive relation to two measures of social cognition

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Valuch ◽  
Louisa Kulke
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Contextual Information ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Similar Degree ◽  
Eye Dominance ◽  
Adult Participants

Integration of prior experience and contextual information can help to resolve perceptually ambiguous situations and might support the ability to understand other peoples’ thoughts and intentions, called Theory of Mind. We studied whether the readiness to incorporate contextual information for resolving binocular rivalry is positively associated with Theory-of-Mind-related social cognitive abilities. In children (12 to 13 years) and adults (18 to 25 years), a predictive temporal context reliably modulated the onset of binocular rivalry to a similar degree. In contrast, adult participants scored better on measures of Theory of Mind compared to children. We observed considerable interindividual differences regarding the influence of a predictive context on binocular rivalry, which were associated with differences in sensory eye dominance. The absence of a positive association between predictive effects on perception and Theory of Mind performance suggests that predictive effects on binocular rivalry and higher-level Theory-of-Mind-related abilities stem from different neurocognitive mechanisms. We conclude that the influence of predictive contextual information on basic visual processes is fully developed at an earlier age, whereas social cognitive skills continue to evolve from adolescence to adulthood.

scholarly journals Mapping the neuroanatomic substrates of cognition in familial attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 590-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Muster ◽  
Saadia Choudhury ◽  
Wendy Sharp ◽  
Steven Kasparek ◽  
Gustavo Sudre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Medication History ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Psychostimulant Medication

AbstractBackgroundWhile the neuroanatomic substrates of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been investigated, less is known about the neuroanatomic correlates of cognitive abilities pertinent to the disorder, particularly in adults. Here we define the neuroanatomic correlates of key cognitive abilities and determine if there are associations with histories of psychostimulant medication.MethodsWe acquired neuroanatomic magnetic resonance imaging data from 264 members of 60 families (mean age 29.5; s.d. 18.4, 116 with ADHD). Using linear mixed model regression, we tested for associations between cognitive abilities (working memory, information processing, intelligence, and attention), symptoms and both cortical and subcortical volumes.ResultsSymptom severity was associated with spatial working memory (t = −3.77, p = 0.0002), processing speed (t = −2.95, p = 0.004) and a measure of impulsive responding (t = 2.19, p = 0.03); these associations did not vary with age (all p > 0.1). Neuroanatomic associations of cognition varied by task but centered on prefrontal, lateral parietal and temporal cortical regions, the thalamus and putamen. The neuroanatomic correlates of ADHD symptoms overlapped significantly with those of working memory (Dice's overlap coefficient: spatial, p = 0.003; verbal, p = 0.001) and information processing (p = 0.02). Psychostimulant medication history was associated with neither cognitive skills nor with a brain–cognition relationships.ConclusionsDiagnostic differences in the cognitive profile of ADHD does not vary significantly with age; nor were cognitive differences associated with psychostimulant medication history. The neuroanatomic substrates of working memory and information overlapped with those for symptoms within these extended families, consistent with a pathophysiological role for these cognitive skills in familial ADHD.

scholarly journals Aging, sex and cognitive Theory of Mind: a transcranial direct current stimulation study

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Adenzato ◽  
Rosa Manenti ◽  
Elena Gobbi ◽  
Ivan Enrici ◽  
Danila Rusich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation

AbstractAging is accompanied by changes in cognitive abilities and a great interest is spreading among researchers about aging impact on social cognition skills, such as the Theory of Mind (ToM). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used in social cognition studies founding evidence of sex-related different effects on cognitive ToM task in a young people sample. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, we applied one active and one sham tDCS session on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during a cognitive ToM task, including both social (i.e., communicative) and nonsocial (i.e., private) intention attribution conditions, in sixty healthy aging individuals (30 males and 30 females). In half of the participants the anode was positioned over the mPFC, whereas in the other half the cathode was positioned over the mPFC. The results showed that: (i) anodal tDCS over the mPFC led to significant slower reaction times (vs. sham) for social intention attribution task only in female participants; (ii) No effects were found in both females and males during cathodal stimulation. We show for the first time sex-related differences in cognitive ToM abilities in healthy aging, extending previous findings concerning young participants.

scholarly journals The effects of cognitive training on executive functions and reading in typically-developing children with varied socioeconomic status in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 85-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janaina Weissheimer ◽  
Renata Callipo Fujii ◽  
Juliana Geizy Marques Souza
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Transfer Effect ◽  
General Effect ◽  
Attention And Executive Control ◽  
Effectiveness Of Training ◽  
The Impact

Recent findings show that children from low-socioeconomic status (SES) tend to have reduced performance on several tasks involving working memory, attention and executive control.  In addition, researchers argue for the effectiveness of training of these same cognitive skills as a way to ameliorate children’s EF skills as well as scholastic outcomes. To investigate possible training effects and to study the impact of SES on scholastic achievement in Brazilian children, we trained 61 children for 5-7 weeks and compared their performance with that of 60 age-matched peers on measures of executive functions and reading. Our results demonstrate a general effect of SES for the dependent variables. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate a positive near transfer effect on a working memory and a selective attention test and a far transfer effect on the words and pseudowords reading measure.

Modeling Causal Relationships Among Giftedness Structure Variables

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 89-122
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Fathey Okasha ◽  
Amany Farahat Abdalmageed
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Causal Relationships ◽  
Metacognitive Skills ◽  
Secondary Grades

The present research aimed at identifying the interrelationships between cognitive, meta-cognitive, and extra-cognitive abilities, and exploring the paths of causal relationships between the constituent variables of the model, as well as verifying the suitability of the structural model with its various components in the interpretation of giftedness. The research sample consisted of (130) male and female students in secondary grades one and two in Technology and Sciences School for gifted in Cairo (STEM Egypt), (32) female students, and (98) male students. The sample's aged between (15-17) years with an average of 15.87 years and a standard deviation of 1.13 degree. The instruments of the study were applied on them after checking their psychometric properties. These tools were: Raven's Progressive Matrices test (Abu Hatab, 1977), and Torrance creative thinking test (photo B) (Sulaiman & Abu Hatab, 1976), as well as a computerized battery that includes a computerized task specific metacognitive skills test, and a computerized Extra-cognitive abilities scale. The research concluded that there is a high impact of meta-cognitive abilities on cognitive abilities, except achievement, and high impact of extra-cognitive abilities on meta-cognitive skills. The results also showed the relevance of the proposed model with its variables in the interpretation of giftedness structure. Keywords: giftedness structure model, developmental cognitive theory of giftedness, meta cognitive abilities, extra-cognitive abilities.

Does the bonobo have a (chimpanzee-like) theory of mind?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Krupenye ◽  
Evan L. MacLean ◽  
Brian Hare
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Ecological Validity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological States ◽  
The Social ◽  
Theorie De L'esprit ◽  
Cognition Sociale

Theory of mind—the ability to reason about the thoughts and emotions of others—is central to what makes us human. Chimpanzees too appear to understand some psychological states. While less is known about bonobos, several lines of evidence suggest that the social-cognitive abilities of the two sister taxa may differ in key respects. This chapter outlines a framework to guide future research on bonobo social cognition based on the predictions of two potentially complementary hypotheses. The self-domestication hypothesis suggests that selection against aggression and for prosociality in bonobos may have impacted the ontogeny of their social-cognitive skills relative to chimpanzees. The empathizing–systemizing hypothesis links degree of prenatal brain masculinization, a potential result of self-domestication, to adult cognition. Specifically, relative feminization may yield more flexible theory of mind skills in bonobos than chimpanzees. Finally, directions for future study, including development of new paradigms that maximize ecological validity for bonobos, are discussed. La théorie de l’esprit—le pouvoir de raisonner les pensées et émotions des autres—est centrale à notre nature humaine. Il parait que les chimpanzés peuvent comprendre quelques états psychologiques. Tandis que nous savons moins des bonobos, plusieurs témoignages suggèrent que les capacités socio-cognitives des deux taxons soeur peuvent différer dans des aspects clefs. Nous traçons un cadre pour guider les prochaines recherches sur la cognition sociale des bonobos, basé sur les prédictions de deux hypothèses potentiellement complémentaires. L’hypothèse d’auto-domestication suggère que l’anti-agression et la prosocialité des bonobos a influé leur ontogenèse et leur capacités socio-cognitives relativement aux chimpanzés. L’hypothèse d’empathie systématique (Empathizing–Systemizing) forme un lien entre le degré de masculinisation prénatale du cerveau, le résultat potentiel d’auto-domestication, et la cognition adulte. Spécifiquement, la féminisation relative génère des théories de l’esprit plus flexibles chez les bonobos que chez les chimpanzés. Enfin, nous discutons le directions pour les prochaines études, inclut le développement de nouveaux paradigmes qui maximisent la validité écologique des bonobos.

Socioeconomic status, executive functions and theory of mind ability in adolescents: relationships with language ability and cortisol

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Pluck
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Language Ability ◽  
Executive Processes ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
The Impact

Socioeconomic status (SES) is linked to development of cognitive abilities, particularly language and executive processes. It is unclear whether these represent a single, or independent correlates. We studied 110 Ecuadorian youths aged 12-17 with measures of SES, language, executive function and theory of mind (ToM), a.k.a. mentalizing. A subsample gave hair samples to estimate past three-month cortisol levels. Restricting analyses to reliable measures, SES was highly associated with language skill, and to a lesser extent with executive function and ToM performance. However, those latter associations were greatly attenuated when language ability was controlled for statistically. Three-month systemic cortisol levels were not associated with SES, but were significantly and negatively correlated with ToM, independent of variation in language skills. We conclude that language development underlies most of the impact of SES on executive function and ToM ability of adolescents, but that stress-related cortisol may have an independent, direct effect on mentalizing.

Exploring the link between a theory of mind and executive functions in preschool children

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
Haris Memisevic ◽  
Inga Biscevic ◽  
Arnela Pasalic
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Children's Social Skills ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Mind Task

Acquisition of the theory of mind (TOM) is a very important milestone in the development of preschool children. TOM is especially important for the development of children’s social skills. The goal of the present study was to examine the effects of age, gender and executive functions (EF) on the acquisition of TOM. The sample in this study consisted of 116 preschool children aged 36-72 months (mean age 58.8 months, SD= 9.5 months). In relation to the child’s gender, there were 56 girls (48.3%) and 60 boys (51.7%). The Sally Anne test- a task purporting to measure TOM, was used as a dependant variable and age, gender, and EF measures were used as the predictors. Logistic regression was used as a method to determine the effects of predictors on TOM. The results of this study indicated that success on the TOM test can best be predicted by the inhibitory control, followed by verbal fluency and child’s age. The gender of the child was not associated with TOM acquisition. The overall model explained between 27% and 38% of the variance in the TOM scores. Inhibitory control is the executive function that had the greatest predictive power for the results on the theory of the mind task. The findings of this study can help early interventionists in the modification of existing preschool curricula, so that they include more activities that would foster the development of the theory of mind in preschool children. Future studies should aim to find a better model of theory of mind predictors by examining the effects of other executive function constructs, such as working memory.

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