This volume is based on a conference held to examine what is known about cognitive behaviors and brain structure and function in three syndromes and to evaluate the usefulness of such models. The goal of this endeavor is to add to the knowledge base of cognitive neuroscience within a developmental framework. Most of what is known about the neurological basis of cognitive function in humans has been learned from studies of central nervous system trauma or disease in adults. Certain neurodevelopmental disorders affect the central nervous system in unique ways by producing specific as opposed to generalized cognitive deficit. Studies of these disorders using neurobiological and behavioral techniques can yield new insights into the localization of cognitive function and the developmental course of atypical cognitive profiles. The focus of this book is a discussion of the multidisciplinary research findings from studies of autism, and Williams and Turner syndromes. The approaches, methods, techniques, and findings reported are at the cutting edge of neuroscience research on complex behavior patterns and their neural substrates. Each disorder is accompanied by some degree of general cognitive impairment or mental retardation. Of greater interest are the atypical deficits in which a cognitive function is spared, such as language in Williams syndrome, or is disproportionately depressed as are spatial discrimination skills and visual-motor coordination in Turner syndrome. Drastically reduced or seemingly absent language capabilities and little interaction with other people characterize the core autism syndrome. A comprehensive and critical discussion of appropriate statistical techniques is made vivid by examples given from studies of small groups or single subjects in neurolinguistics and related fields.

This book presents a comparative review of the latest studies and data on prelinguistic communication and early semantic development in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Williams syndrome (WMS), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and early language delay. Papaeliou offers a critical analysis of the literature, compares key theoretical approaches, and interprets data on development in atypical populations. A fruitful synthesis of theory and research reveals that, instead of cognitive deficits, the core feature of these neurodevelopmental disorders consists of deficits in the ability for self- and intersubjective coordination, which adversely affects early interactions and, consequently, the emergence of language. The book composes fragmentary proposals on the role of rhythm disruptions in different conditions, setting out the idea that disruption in interactional synchrony is a connecting thread through neurodevelopmental disorders which show high prevalence or high comorbidity rates. Papaeliou identifies distinct communicative patterns characteristic of each disorder and puts forward a unifying theory for interpreting data on early communication and language development in atypical populations. This is ideal reading for psychologists, psycholinguists, psychiatrists, paediatricians, speech therapists, and special educators. Students in developmental psychology and anyone interested in understanding the research behind typical and atypical development will also benefit from this text.

Leaders in neuropsychology, behavioral neurology, speech and language science, neuropsychiatry, and many other disciplines contribute to this volume, the first comprehensive review of knowledge in the field. They discuss a wide range of disorders, including areas of recent research - such as frontal lobe dementias and the neuropsychological aspects of late life depression - and clinical problems typically given insufficient consideration in other works, such as seizure disorder, head injury, and mental retardation. Normal aging is also covered in detail, and assessment procedures and clinical interventions are given thorough treatment. Other highlights include discussions of guardianship and caregiving personality and behavior, psychotic disorders, Alzheimer's, and head trauma.

Evolution and Psychology is a critical exploration of how evolutionary approaches can be used to understand the human mind and behaviour. Written for undergraduate students in the social sciences, this text provides an accessible introduction to foundational concepts in evolutionary biology. It then explores evolutionary perspectives on key psychological topics such as cognition, development, group dynamics, mate choice, language and communication, psychopathology, and culture. An interdisciplinary approach is woven throughout, integrating evolutionary psychology with insights from behavioural ecology, anthropology, genetics, and neuroscience. You will learn to think critically about evolutionary explanations, with Warning Flag features throughout the text that address frequently misunderstood topics, common fallacies, and historical misuses and abuses of applying evolutionary theory to human behaviour. This is an essential read for students of Evolutionary Psychology and anyone looking for a contemporary overview of this complex and captivating field. Scott A. MacDougall-Shackleton is Professor of Psychology at Western University.

The incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with an estimated 5% of the population affected, is on the rise. Of those 5%, more than half must also cope with one or more comorbid disorders of learning, emotion, and behavior—complicating ADHD diagnosis and treatment. The challenge for clinicians is to treat not just ADHD, but also the psychiatric disorders and comorbid disorders that often accompany it. Edited by a leading researcher and practitioner, Attention-Deficit Disorders and Comorbidities in Children, Adolescents, and Adultsbrings together the work of 25 distinguished contributors—all on the cutting edge of ADHD research. The past decade of research and clinical experience has shown that ADHD is far from the simple disorder, starting in childhood and remitting in adulthood, it was once thought to be. Divided into two main sections, this volume includes a chapter on each of the psychiatric disorders and comorbidities that often occur with ADHD. • In the first section, "ADDs With Comorbidities," the editor introduces readers to ADHD by talking about our emerging understanding of and the latest genetic research on ADHD. The author of each subsequent chapter shows how ADHD interacts with mood and anxiety disorders, oppositionality and aggression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, learning disorders, substance abuse disorders, sleep disturbances, Tourette syndrome, and developmental coordination disorder. This section concludes with two final chapters: one on assessing and treating ADDs in preschoolers and the other on different treatment outcomes as reported in existing longitudinal studies of ADDs. • The second section, "Assessments and Interventions for ADDs", includes in-depth chapters on clinical assessment and diagnosis, pharmacotherapy, psychosocial and educational interventions, and a cognitive therapy perspective on ADHD. This section wraps up by emphasizing the importance of tailoring treatment to the individual as a whole, considering not only comorbidities but also family and social settings. Heavily annotated and written with practical implications for both clinicians and educators in mind, this comprehensive volume demonstrates a scope and depth unparalleled within the current literature. As such, it will find its way into the libraries of professionals and interested laypersons alike: clinical psychiatrists and psychologists; pediatricians, family practitioners and other primary care physicians who treat children, adolescents, and adults; education professionals, including school nurses, special education teachers and administrators, and college and university disability services personnel; and juvenile justice system professionals, including clinical and social workers and administrators.

The current book addresses the development of mental state understanding in children with typical and atypical population, and reports new suggestions about the way to evaluate it and to support it through training. The presented frame is multifaceted. In respect to typical populations, the role of maternal reflective functioning, language, communication, and educational contexts has been deepened; and the association with internalizing/externalizing behaviors, performances in spatial tasks and pragmatics has been addressed as well. As to atypical populations, deficits in mental states understanding are reported for children with different developmental disorders or impairments, as the agenesis of the corpus callosum, Down Syndrome, preterm birth, Autism Spectrum Disorder, hearing impairment and personality difficulties such as anxiety. Overall, the papers collected in our book allow a better understanding of the mechanisms influencing mental state understanding and the effects of mental state comprehension on development.

Fully updated with significant advances in autism research, this new edition offers an essential and practical overview of the field.

An up-to-date presentation of language use and communication skills in alternative populations. It is aimed at an audience already exposed to psycholinguistics.

This guide lists materials catalogued by Columbia University Teachers College during 1994, with additional entries from the New York Public Library for selected publications in the field. All aspects of education are covered, including American elementary and secondary education, higher adult education, early childhood education, history and philosophy of education, international and comparative education, administration, education of the culturally disadvantaged and physically challenged, education of minorities, education of women, and administrative reports of departments of education in the US and abroad. The listing is intended as a supplement to the Dictionary Catalogue of the Teachers College Library, Columbia University (G.K. Hall, 1970).