Abstracts 107

Holler, R. F. Arizona State Hospital. The Concise Neuropsychological Scale (CNS).

A relatively brief nemopsychological scale with a direct and clear administration, scoring, and interpretation system has been developed. The research involved selec- tion of neuropsychologically relevant items and categories. Cognitive functions mea- sured by the Concise Nemopsychological Scale (CNS) are Language (Receptive and Expressive), Orientation, Attention/Concentration/Immediate Memory, Recent Memory, Remote Memory, Motor/Sensory/Tactile, Visual/Spatial/Motor Integra- tion, Academic (Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic), Intellectual Processes, Judge- ment/Reasoning. Data for normative and neuropsychologically impaired groups are contrasted. Profiles of deficit types related to DSM-III-R criteria and diagnoses are discussed.

Brooks, D. A., Gray, J. W., & Dean, R. S. Ball State University Neuropsychology Laboratory. Perinatal complications: A factor analysis.

The underlying factor structure of perinatal events was examined for 847 children (272 normals, 117 developmentally disabled, 37 speech disordered, 221 learning disordered, 91 emotionally disturbed, and 109 Head Start Children). Pertinent perinatal information was intercorrelated and the resulting correlation matrix was subjected to a principle-components factor analysis. Ten factors accounting for some 58% of the total variance were isolated on the basis of this procedure. The labels and components of the significant factors in perinatal complications include: “Obstetric History” (number of prior pregnancies, incidence of problem pregnancies, maternal age); “Birth Weight” (neonate’s birth weight, gestational age at birth); “Psychosocial Events” (degree to which pregnancy was planned for, level of psychosocial stress during pregnancy, physician consultations, maternal smoking during pregnancy); “Maternal Morphology” (prior to pregnancy: mother’s height, mother’s weight); “Labor” (was labor induced, when was labor started); “Delivery Factors” (time of delivery, type of anesthesia); “Maternal Weight Gain” (maternal weight gain, edema of extremities); “Intrauterine Stress” (vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, medication taken during pregnancy); “Tetragenic Stress” (maternal smoking during pregnancy, mother’s ingestion of alcohol during pregnancy); “Oxygen Deprivation” (multiple pregnancy, color of neonate at birth). Generally speaking these factors appeared to be consistent with clinical evidence. The results were discussed in terms of their implications for the research utility of perinatal information.

Brooks, D. A., Dean, R. S., & Gray, J. W. Neuropsychology Laboratory, Ball State University. Dimensions of successive and simultaneous processing in the Halstead-Reitan Neu- ropsychological Battery.

This study examined the neuropsychological elements involved in successive and simultaneous processes for learning disabled children. A step-wise multiple regres-

108 Abstracts

sion suggested that successive processing played a direct role in those HRNB tests seen to measure mental flexibility, verbal and nonverbal auditory discrimination, and psychomotor speed. Further analysis revealed that tactual discrimination/kinesthe- sis, location of spatial elements, and nonverbal intermediate memory appear to be neuropsychological functions requiring simultaneous processing. The results were interpreted as lending support to the neuropsychological differences between subtests of the WISC-R grouped on the basis of successive and simultaneous processing demands.

Hartlage, L. C., Ball, V. D., Gallagher, A. J., Gladden, L. G., Gregory, W. M., Johnson, A. O., Sherman, A. C., & Williams, B. University of South Carolina & Albuquerque, NM (B.W.). Objective assessment of behavior change following CNS insult: Cross validation.

Behavior changes following CNS insult have been reported with sufficient fre- quency to be recognized as a relatively common sequel to such insult. In spite of this recognition, this phenomenon has not yet received nearly the attention devoted to study of the neurocognitive sequelae of CNS insult. Emerging findings suggest that behavioral sequelae may present greater problems than cognitive deficits in subse- quent adaptation, especially in cases of mild to moderate CNS insult. Lack of available measurement approaches has presented a significant obstacle to research in this area. This project cross-validated a measurement procedure for assessing behav- ioral change specifically related to a given CNS insult date. Forty normal controls were compared with 40 clinical patients who had suffered CNS insult and demon- strated positive neuropsychological findings. Cross validation involved similar num- bers of paired/control subjects. Findings revealed consistent high differentiation between clinical and control groups, with good internal stability over time with control groups. Both validity and adequate sensitivity for objective measurement of behavior change following CNS insult are demonstrated by this method, which offers a useful approach for studying behavior changes.

Batchelor, E. S. Ball State University. Neuropsychology of arithmetic disability in children: A critical overview and recom- mendations for future research.

The arithmetic learning disability literature was reviewed and critiqued. Due to the paucity of research in this area, few conclusions may be inferred. In general, the available research has provided tentative hypotheses about the nature of arithmetic disabilities. A variety of psychosocial variables not withstanding, childhood arith- metic disability may directly result from cerebral dysfunction, poor motivation, and emotional/behavioral disturbance. However, further research is necessary in order to clarify the effects of maturation on arithmetic skills acquisition. Indeed, one ap- proach to identification of the disorder would consider individual differences in neuropsychological development and performance affecting arithmetic achievement. It was concluded that a more comprehensive approach to the investigating and