Showing papers on "Psychomotor learning published in 1992"
TL;DR: Families demonstrated generally positive and stable adaptation (in terms of the effect of rearing a child with disabilities on the family, parenting stress, and social support), despite persistent challenges with respect to mother-child interaction and differences in reported stress between mothers and fathers.
Abstract: This Monograph presents the results of a nonexperimental, longitudinal investigation of developmental change in 190 infants and their families after 1 year of early intervention services. The Early Intervention Collaborative Study (EICS), conducted in association with 29 community-based programs in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, was designed to assess correlates of adaptation in young children with disabilities and their families over time, to inform social policy by analyzing the influences of family ecology and formal services on child and family outcomes, and to generate conceptual models to guide further investigation. The study sample (mean age at entry = 10.6 months) includes 54 children with Down syndrome, 77 with motor impairment, and 59 with developmental delays of uncertain etiology. Data were collected during two home visits (within 6 weeks of program entry and 12 months later) and included formal child assessments, observations of mother-child interaction, maternal interviews, and questionnaires completed independently by both parents as well as monthly service data collected from service providers. Child and family functioning varied considerably. Developmental change in the children (psychomotor abilities, adaptive behavior, spontaneous play, and child-mother interaction skills) was influenced to some extent by gestational age and health characteristics, but the strongest predictor of change was the relative severity of the child's psychomotor impairment at study entry. Families demonstrated generally positive and stable adaptation (in terms of the effect of rearing a child with disabilities on the family, parenting stress, and social support), despite persistent challenges with respect to mother-child interaction and differences in reported stress between mothers and fathers. Documentation of services revealed that early intervention is a complex and multidimensional experience that spans multiple public and private systems. Vulnerable and resilient subgroups within the sample were identified, and different correlates of adaptive change were demonstrated. Results of data analyses suggest new perspectives on the study of early childhood disability. The implications of the findings for developmental theory and social policy are discussed.
278 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the association of fetal and newborn complications, socioeconomic status, and home environment with learning deficits as assessed between 9 and 11 years of age was examined, and it was found that children with learning disorders had lower full-scale IQ scores and behavioral problems of inattention and anxiety.
226 citations
TL;DR: Results from multiple regression analyses showed that clinically significant distal symmetrical polyneuropathy was strongly associated with psychomotor slowing, whereas, glycosylated hemoglobin values were weakly associated with both psychom motor slowing and spatial processing.
Abstract: To test the hypothesis that diabetes mellitus is associated with cognitive dysfunction, a battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to 75 diabetic adults and an equal number of demographically similar nondiabetic control subjects. Compared with control subjects, diabetic subjects performed significantly more poorly on measures of psychomotor efficiency and spatial information processing. In contrast, no between-group differences appeared on measures of verbal intelligence, learning, memory, problem solving, or simple motor speed. Results from multiple regression analyses showed that clinically significant distal symmetrical polyneuropathy was strongly associated with psychomotor slowing, whereas, glycosylated hemoglobin values were weakly associated with both psychomotor slowing and spatial processing. No other biomedical variables predicted cognitive test performance. These neurobehavioral data are consistent with the hypothesis that a “central neuropathy” may be associated, at least in part, with chronic hyperglycemia.
109 citations
01 Jan 1992
99 citations
TL;DR: The test cage cocaine-treated animals were also significantly more responsive to a saline challenge than the animals treated with cocaine in the home cage, suggesting that this degree of locomotor activation was minimal, however, compared to that achieved with the cocaine challenge.
Abstract: Increased behavioral and convulsive responsivity to cocaine (sensitization and kindling, respectively) has been recognized since the early 1930~,'-~ although it was not until the 1970s and 1980s that this began to be explored ~ y s t e m a t i d y . ~ ~ The phenomenon of behavioral sensitization has also been demonstrated to be associated with the environmental context in which a drug is repeatedly administered. That is, enhanced responsivity to cocaine is more readily elicited if an animal is pretreated and tested in the same environment compared with an animal treated and tested in Werent environments. For example, we administered cocaine (10 mgkg) to one group of rats in a Plexiglas cage situated on an activity monitor (test cage) and gave a second injection of saline to these rats when they were removed from the test cage; we treated a second group of rats with a saline injection in the test cage, and the same dose of cocaine (10 mg/kg) upon leaving the test environment.8 After repeating this procedure for 10 days, robust behavioral sensitization was observed only in the animals that had received cocaine in the context of the test cage, and not in those receiving equal doses of cocaine in their home cage (and then challenged in the test environment). Similar results showing context-dependent sensitization were observed by Hinson and POU~OS,~ who also found that sensitization could be extinguished by repeated injections of saline in the test environment. In our study: the test cage cocaine-treated animals were also significantly more responsive to a saline challenge than the animals treated with cocaine in the home cage. This degree of locomotor activation was minimal, however, compared to that achieved with the cocaine challenge, suggesting that
82 citations
TL;DR: Findings are consistent with the view that the very preterm infant develops a different neurobehavioral organization than a full‐term infant and developmental deficits may become increasingly evident in the early school years.
Abstract: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) and children having very low birth weight, less than 1500 g, are claimed to be at risk of developmental problems, even when obvious pathology and disability are absent. In this study, sensorimotor and cognitive development of 14 medically healthy, very-low-birth-weight and small-for-gestational-age children were investigated. The children were born at the Karolinska Hospital between 1979 and 1981. At the time of the assessment, the children were aged 8.7-11.2 years. The assessment instruments included the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, a modified version of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, as well as selected subtests from the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery and from the Southern California Tests of Sensory Integration. Information was also obtained from obstetric, neonatal and pediatric records, which included early developmental assessments. As a control group, 14 children were recruited and matched for age, sex and socio-economic background. The very-low-birth-weight-small-for-gestational-age group scored significantly lower on measures of visuospatial ability, non-verbal reasoning, strategy formation and gross-motor coordination. The group differences were largely attributable to the subnormal performance of eight of the very-low-birth-weight-small-for-gestational-age children. These children, who also tended to be born earliest (less than 33 weeks), had a high incidence of behavioral and educational problems. These findings are consistent with the view that the very preterm infant develops a different neurobehavioral organization than a full-term infant. Developmental deficits may become increasingly evident in the early school years.
77 citations
73 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the literature for evidence that student thought processes mediate achievement in physical education, and explore the notion that students play an active role in the learning process.
Abstract: It has recently been suggested that background knowledge, expectations about success and failure, motivation for learning, and the ability to understand instruction play a central role in determining how much a student learns. The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature for evidence that student thought processes mediate achievement in physical education. A cognitive conception of learning is presented, and the notion that students play an active role in the learning process is explored.
73 citations
TL;DR: There were a few hints that prolonged breath holding increased marijuana's effects under some test conditions, but in general it did not, and cannabis-induced impairment in learning pairs of words was influenced by associative relationships between the words.
Abstract: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed acute effects on human cognition of marijuana smoking involving long or short durations of inhalation and breath holding. During eight test sessions, 48 adult, male volunteers completed standardized, pencil-and-paper tests of educational development and ability, as well as computerized tests of learning, associative processes, abstraction, and psychomotor performance. Marijuana impaired all capabilities except abstraction and vocabulary. These impairments were more pervasive than those associated with heavy, chronic marijuana use in a previous study involving the same tests, but showed some similarities. Marijuana altered associative processes, encouraging more uncommon associations. Marijuana-induced impairment in learning pairs of words was influenced by associative relationships between the words. There were a few hints that prolonged breath holding increased marijuana's effects under some test conditions, but in general it did not. Prolonged breath holding itself affected performance in four tests, regardless of whether subjects smoked marijuana or placebo. Whether physiological or psychological factors (e.g., exposure to carbon monoxide in smoke or subjects' expectations) produced these effects could not be determined.
66 citations
TL;DR: The mean activity level of the unipolar depressives is higher (though not at a significant level) than that of the bipolar group and there is a weak but significant negative correlation between psychomotor activity and self-rated sleep time.
Abstract: Findings on the psychomotor activity of unipolar versus bipolar depressive patients and on the relationship between psychomotor activity and sleep are divergent. In this study, the psychomotor activity of 37 depressive patients (25 unipolar, 12 bipolar) was examined by means of continuous actometric monitoring (48 h). The mean activity level of the unipolar depressives is higher (though not at a significant level) than that of the bipolar group. There is a weak but significant negative correlation between psychomotor activity and self-rated sleep time. Elderly and female patients display greater psychomotor activity than younger depressives and male patients. After matching for age and gender, the psychomotor activity of unipolar and bipolar patients is virtually identical; a significant correlation between psychomotor activity and sleep time cannot be established any more.
64 citations
TL;DR: Significant group differences were found on the Mental Development Index and Psychomotor Development Index, with the seropositive infants scoring significantly lower than the seronegative or seroreverter infants.
Abstract: To evaluate the natural course of cognitive and motor development among infants infected with human immunodeficiency virus from birth, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development were administered to 96 infants between 5.5 and 24 months of age. Infants were divided into three groups on the basis of subsequent assessment of human immunodeficiency virus serologic status: seronegative (N = 45), seropositive (N = 12), and seroreverter (N = 39). Groups did not differ in race, infant age at initial testing, maternal age, maternal education level, maternal history of intravenous drug abuse, or percentage of children in foster care placement. Significant group differences were found on the Mental Development Index and Psychomotor Development Index, with the seropositive infants scoring significantly lower than the seronegative or seroreverter infants.
TL;DR: On the whole moclobemide has been found to be free from any behavioural toxicity likely to interfere with the well-being of patients or their performance of the tasks of everyday living.
Abstract: The clinical decision to use a particular antidepressant should be made with reference to the behavioural toxicity profiles of substances in current use. Antidepressants can be cardiotoxic, proconvulsant, able to cause weight gain and sleep disturbance, and also impair psychological functions necessary for everyday living. Behavioural toxicity (reduction in psychomotor activity or cognitive ability) tends to augment levels of psychomotor and cognitive retardation; meta-analysis of controlled studies of antidepressants shows that some tricyclics can disrupt these functions. In comparison with these, moclobemide is relatively free from significant behavioural toxicity within the dose-ranges used. No relevant differences were found between placebo and 200 mg moclobemide on a battery of psychomotor and cognitive tests: with 400 mg, there was a significant impairment of peripheral reaction time, but no other measure of the test battery was impaired. In comparison, amitriptyline 50 mg, produced a noticeable and significant impairment of psychomotor and cognitive skills on most test measures. On the whole moclobemide has been found to be free from any behavioural toxicity likely to interfere with the well-being of patients or their performance of the tasks of everyday living.
TL;DR: Moderate doses of alcohol can produce significant deficits in perceptual and motor skills related to driving a vehicle, particularly those involving psychomotor function.
Abstract: Nine male and nine female subjects received one of four doses of alcohol (0-25, 0-5, 0-75 or 1 g per kg of bodyweight for male subjects: females received 92% of these values) or placebo. Similar blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) for males and females were reached. Subjects were then tested on two batteries of psychological tests related to skills involved in driving. These included psychomotor, cognitive and subjective assessment tasks. The results showed a linear increase in the disruption of performance with dose for many of the tests, particularly those involving psychomotor function. In addition it was demonstrated that on certain tasks males were affected more by alcohol than females. It is concluded that moderate doses of alcohol (resulting in BACs of 0-05 to 0-08 g/100 ml) can produce significant deficits in perceptual and motor skills related to driving a vehicle.
TL;DR: A patient who after a bout of probable TB exhibited an unusual pattern of response retardation, although given time he was able to score at a satisfactory level, and showed many similarities with patients previously described as having subcortical dementia.
Abstract: We describe a patient (R.S.) who after a bout of probable TB exhibited an unusual pattern of response retardation, although given time he was able to score at a satisfactory level. He was strikingly slow to initiate speaking and to carry out higher level cognitive tasks, at a time when he could complete a variety of psychomotor activities at normal speed. He showed many similarities with patients previously described as having subcortical dementia. The selective preservation of psychomotor responding in the context of his gross bradyphrenia, however, was unexpected.
TL;DR: A review of the literature reveals a range of the nurse's subroles within the service of nursing and competence in psychomotor, cognitive and affective skills is required for performance within each of theseSubroles to achieve the delivery of high-quality nursing care.
Abstract: A review of the literature reveals a range of the nurse's subroles within the service of nursing. Competence in psychomotor, cognitive and affective skills is required for performance within each of these subroles to achieve the delivery of high-quality nursing care.
TL;DR: Regression analyses revealed that general cognitive ability contributed more variance to predictions of achievement than all other variables, including weight for age and VMI, and children with reduced somatic growth were likely to do poorly in school, but the data do not show that undernutrition causes learning failure.
Abstract: Measures of height, weight, nonverbal cognitive ability (Ravens progressive matrix), visual-motor-perceptual ability (Beery-Buktenica test of Visual Motor Integration [VMI]), the imitation-of-gestures technique, and academic achievement (Stanford Early Achievement) were obtained for a sample of 82 children from a poor inner-city community. In contrast to prior reports from the United States and about other developed countries, anthropometric measures were related both to academic achievement and to these measures of neurodevelopment. They were not consistently related to measures of nonverbal cognitive ability. Regression analyses revealed that general cognitive ability contributed more variance (39%) to predictions of achievement than all other variables, including weight for age (13%) and VMI (6%). Children with reduced somatic growth were likely to do poorly in school, but the data do not show that undernutrition causes learning failure. Rather, they suggest that environmental problems affecting the development of thought processes and nutrient intake precede both growth and learning failure.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The risk of psychomotor retardation and the prevalence of mental subnormality are slightly increased in offspring of mothers with epilepsy, and polytherapy and inherited deviations in AED metabolism in the fetus probably do increase the risk for mental retardation.
Abstract: The risk of psychomotor retardation and the prevalence of mental subnormality are slightly increased in offspring of mothers with epilepsy. The prevalence rates of mental deficiency observed in population-based studies have been lower than those in reports of hospital-based studies. In addition to use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), several other factors associated with maternal epilepsy, such as seizures during pregnancy, inherited brain disorders, and nonoptimal psychosocial environment, can affect the child's psychomotor development. None of the major AEDs carries any special risk for mental retardation. However, polytherapy and inherited deviations in AED metabolism in the fetus probably do increase the risk for mental retardation.
TL;DR: The hypothesis that more positive affective behaviors would be associated with attempts at mastering the new motor tasks was confirmed and there was no diminution in the association between thenew motor tasks and positive affect as the infants continued to practice and master the three motor tasks.
Abstract: The hypothesis that attempts at motor mastery were accompanied by positive affective responses was tested in an observational study of 9-11-month old infants in a daycare setting. Five infants were observed as they attempted three age-appropriate motor tasks--pulling to stand, standing with support, and taking steps with support. Positive affective responses included smiling, babbling, and laughing. The five infants were observed for a total of 82 hours. The proportion of positive affective behaviors associated with practicing new motor tasks was compared to the proportion associated with well-practiced tasks. The hypothesis that more positive affective behaviors would be associated with attempts at mastering the new motor tasks was confirmed. There was no diminution in the association between the new motor tasks and positive affect as the infants continued to practice and master the three motor tasks. The results are discussed in terms of individual differences in mastery motivation and the often suggested continuity between early mastery motivation and later competencies.
TL;DR: In this paper, a comparative review of studies assessing the psychomotor skills of hearing impaired children and youth is presented, finding that hearing impaired subjects were found to be more similar than dissimilar in psychOMotor behavior, with the exception of balance.
Abstract: The present paper is a comparative review of studies assessing the psychomotor skills of hearing impaired children and youth. Studies have found balance deficiencies in hearing impaired subjects compared to hearing subjects. Research comparing hearing impaired and hearing subjects in motor performance have revealed contradictory results. Studies assessing physical fitness found hearing impaired subjects to be inferior to hearing subjects in a few items. Overall, hearing impaired subjects were found to be more similar than dissimilar in psychomotor behavior, with the exception of balance. Hearing impaired persons need to be individually evaluated in order to develop appropriate physical education programs; psychomotor deficits should not be automatically assumed. Results of studies are confounded by factors such as communication techniques, selection of measuring instruments, and educational placement. Directions for future research are suggested.
Patent•
17 Jul 1992
TL;DR: In this paper, a method for reducing or eliminating psychomotor addiction in mammalian subjects, employing as an active agent 3-phenoxypyridine or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salt thereof, was provided.
Abstract: A method of treatment is provided for reducing or eliminating psychomotor addiction in mammalian subjects, employing as an active agent 3-phenoxypyridine or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salt thereof.
TL;DR: Historical views and contemporary measures of psychomotor change are overviewed, noting variable interest in behavioural manifestations of depression, as against symptoms, over time.
Abstract: Psychomotor disturbance has generally been viewed as a feature of all depressive disorders, merely varying in severity as a consequence of the mood state. As we have elsewhere argued for psychomotor change being specific to melancholia, its definition, measurement and capacity to sub-type depressive disorders may benefit from close consideration. Here we overview historical views and contemporary measures of psychomotor change, noting variable interest in behavioural manifestations of depression, as against symptoms, over time.
TL;DR: The benzodiazepines as a class of drugs impair both cognitive and motor performance, and no single psychomotor task adequately simulates complex daily tasks such as automobile driving.
Abstract: 1. The literature relating to the effects of benzodiazepines in general, and temazepam in particular, on human psychomotor performance as assessed using microcomputer-based testing batteries is surveyed. 2. The adverse effects of central nervous system depressants on performance is an important mediocolegal issue and frequently comes into question in on-the-road and on-the-job accidents. The use of microcomputer-based testing batteries allows for performance evaluation both in the laboratory and at-the-scene, as well as providing the opportunity to model a large number of different behaviours required in routine yet complex psychomotor tasks. 3. The conclusions in general are: (1) The benzodiazepines as a class of drugs impair both cognitive and motor performance. These effects are often subtle when low doses are involved or when testing occurs the morning following evening administration of the medication. (2) No single psychomotor task adequately simulates complex daily tasks such as automobile driving. A battery of tests that evaluates a number of the components of such tasks is necessary to determine adequately the full range of effects of these medications.
TL;DR: This chapter will review the recent attempts to define electrophysiological correlates of sensitization to psychomotor stimulants, particularly to cocaine and present the findings of the effects of repeated cocaine administration on the mesoaccumbens DA system.
Abstract: Although a variety of psychological and sociological variables are involved in the voluntary use of psychomotor stimulants, it is the powerful reinforcing (rewarding) properties of these drugs which are primarily responsible for their addictive potential and, thus, their repeated use by humans. Drug self-administration studies in laboratory animals have enabled researchers to identlfy the neuronal systems involved in this reinforcement process. The evidence clearly indicates that brain dopamine (DA) neurons play an essential role in central reward circuitry.l.2 More precisely, the DA neurons of the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VIA) innervating the ventral striatal region, known as nucleus accumbens (NAc), have been primarily implicated in reward processes. These same neurons are also intricately involved in the locomotorstimulating effects of psychomotor stimulants.3 This commonality of DA system involvement has led to a “psychomotor stimulant theory of addiction” which asserts that a common denominator underlymg the addictive qualities of a variety of substances is their ability to cause psychomotor activation.4 Accordingly, the biological mechanisms underlying locomotor stimulation and positive reinforcement may be the same. If the psychomotor stimulant theory of addiction is correct, then an understanding of the neural events accompanying repeated psychomotor stimulant administration should be of considerable relevance to the addictive process. One of the best characterized effects of repeated administration of psychomotor stimulants is the develop ment of reverse tolerance or “sensitization” to their ability to cause l o c ~ m o t i o n . ~ . ~ Within the past few years, many researchers have addressed the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of behavioral sensitization to psychomotor stimulants. This chapter will review our recent attempts to define electrophysiological correlates of sensitization, particularly to cocaine. We will present our findings of the effects of repeated cocaine administration on the mesoaccumbens DA system and attempt to synthesize
TL;DR: It is concluded that zopiclone has useful hypnotic activity without significant adverse effects on athletic performance.
Abstract: 1. In a double-blind cross-over study 8 athletes received during 2 sessions of 2 nights zopiclone (7.5 mg) or placebo. 2. Residual effects on subsequent daytime functions were evaluated both subjectively by visual analogue scales as well as objectively by a test battery measuring psychomotor and physical skills. 3. Zopiclone had some favourable effects on self-estimated sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. 4. Psychomotor and physical performance tests did not show any significant difference between zopiclone and placebo. 5. We conclude that zopiclone has useful hypnotic activity without significant adverse effects on athletic performance.
TL;DR: This article assessed possible differences in children's motor development data from intact first grade classrooms on six subtest items from the short form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Mot...
Abstract: To assess possible differences in children's motor development data were collected from intact first-grade classrooms on six subtest items from the short form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Mot...
TL;DR: The chapter recapitulates some of the changes in perspective that have taken place in the field and discusses their value for an integrative perspective on motor control and psychomotor skill acquisition.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter describes some aspects of the motor control and motor learning relation. The chapter recapitulates some of the changes in perspective that have taken place in the field and discusses their value for an integrative perspective on motor control and psychomotor skill acquisition. In the chapter, the theoretical part of the steps from research on motor control to problems of skill acquisition and training are explored. The presentation is organized around two polarities—motor control or motor learning and prescriptive/emergent theories. Within the two frameworks the changing conceptualization and contrasts of motor control or motor learning are traced and compared. In addition, the chapter presents the short historical perspective of recent motor control or motor learning approaches. It explores the motor control tenets of a selection of theories under the two categories outlined in the chapter. The chapter concludes with an experimentation discussion in which original experiments on motor control and learning, from both a computational and an ecological perspective, are presented and explained.
TL;DR: After a 6-week treatment period, the TV condition was significantly more effective than the CT condition, at the .05 level, in the acquisition of gross motor skills for students with autism.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine whether the technique of task variation (with maintenance tasks interspersed) (TV) is more effective in the acquisition of gross motor skills for students with autism than a constant task (CT) condition in a physical education setting. Subjects were 12 male students with autism, ages 11 to 15 years. The study included pretest-posttest administration of the I CAN assessment of Gross Motor Skills to assess skills such as overhand throw, kick, and vertical jump. After a 6-week treatment period, the TV condition was significantly more effective than the CT condition, at the .05 level.
TL;DR: In the stages before acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) develops, EEG findings as well as psychometric findings indicate central nervous system involvement of AIDS in about 20–30% of cases, whereas in full‐blown AIDS there is a marked increase to 80%.
Abstract: A total of 181 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive hemophiliacs and 28 hemophilic controls were evaluated by psychometric tests and by electroencephalogram (EEG). Patients were classified from stages 1-6 according to the immunological criteria of the Walter Reed staging system. Statistical analysis of psychometric data showed an effect of the stage of the disease on test performances, indicating a decline in attention, accumulation of perceptual interferences, decline in visuoperceptual speed and visuomotor response speed and reduced verbal memory performance, especially in stage 6 patients. Comparison of performance levels with normative test data already revealed cognitive deficits in about 20-30% of the patients in stages 2-5. As regards verbal memory, especially learning and recognition of new verbal information were impaired. In contrast, there was no significant deficit for nonverbal memory processing. Compared with the controls, patients exhibited an increasing number of abnormal EEG findings in stages 2-6. As a conclusion, in the stages before acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) develops, EEG findings as well as psychometric findings indicate central nervous system involvement of AIDS in about 20-30% of cases, whereas in full-blown AIDS there is a marked increase to 80%. Besides a more general deficit of attention and psychomotor speed as is seen in subcortical dementia, there is evidence for a particular verbal learning disorder, suggesting additional selective impairment of the brain.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Most of the psychomotor scores showed smoothing variations with gestational age ranging from 37 to 39 weeks, whereas sharp changes occurred between 39 to 40 weeks, with plateau values above such a cut-off for all spheres of development examined.
Abstract: A prospective study has been carried out to assess the psychomotor deficit resulting from a moderate decrease in gestational age and pre-natal lead exposure. The general cognitive index of the McCarthy psychometric scale (adjusted for confounders) in six-year-old children was related to gestational age. Most of the psychomotor scores showed smoothing variations with gestational age ranging from 37 to 39 weeks, whereas sharp changes occurred between 39 to 40 weeks, with plateau values above such a cut-off for all spheres of development examined. Maternal hair lead content, used as an indicator of lead exposure during pregnancy, was found to be negatively related to general cognitive, verbal, quantitative, and memory subscales (p less than 0.01), whereas its relationship with perceptual and motor subscales was close to 0.05 significance level. Control for gestational age did not change the significance level of the associations. When controlling for maternal hair lead levels, the significance of the association between gestational age and the McCarthy subscales also remained stable, only the general cognitive index and verbal subscale reaching the conventional significance level.