Catalogue Search | MBRL
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
{{itemTitle}}
23
result(s) for
"Cockcroft, Kate"
Sort by:
Working Memory Profiles in HIV-Exposed, Uninfected and HIV-Infected Children: A Comparison with Neurotypical Controls
This study compared the working memory profiles of three groups of children, namely HIV-infected (HIV-I;
= 95), HIV-exposed, uninfected (HIV-EU;
= 86) and an HIV-unexposed, uninfected, (HIV-UU;
= 92) neurotypical control group. Working memory, an executive function, plays an important role in frontal lobe-controlled behaviors, such as motivation, planning, decision making, and social interaction, and is a strong predictor of academic success in school children. Memory impairments have been identified in HIV-I children, particularly in visuospatial processing. Verbal working memory has not been commonly investigated in this population, while it is unknown how the working memory profiles of HIV-EU children compare to their HIV-I and HIV-UU peers. Of interest was whether the working memory profiles of the HIV-EU children would be more similar to the HIV-I group or to the uninfected control group. The results revealed no significant differences in working memory performance between the HIV-I and HIV-EU groups. However, this does not mean that the etiology of the working memory deficits is the same in the two groups, as these groups showed important differences when compared to the control group. In comparison to the controls, the HIV-I group experienced difficulties with processing tasks irrespective of whether they drew on a verbal or visuospatial modality. This appears to stem from a generalized executive function deficit that also interferes with working memory. In the HIV-EU group, difficulties occurred with verbally based tasks, irrespective of whether they required storage or processing. For this group, the dual demands of complex processing and using a second language seem to result in demand exceeding capacity on verbal tasks. Both groups experienced the greatest difficulties with verbal processing tasks for these different reasons. Thus, disruption of different cognitive abilities could result in similar working memory profiles, as evidenced in this study. This has implications for the underlying developmental neurobiology of HIV-I and HIV-EU children, as well the choice of appropriate measures to assist affected children.
Journal Article
The role of working memory in childhood education: Five questions and answers
Working memory is the mental ability to temporarily store and manipulate information. Its functioning is distinct from the vast storage capacity of long-term memory and is crucial for optimal learning and development. There is considerable research on several theoretical aspects of working memory. Far less research has explored the application of such theory in order to understand how children perform in educational settings and to support and improve their academic performance. In this paper, five key aspects regarding working memory are considered and their implications for early childhood development, learning and education are discussed. These aspects include the role of the different components of working memory in early childhood learning, ways in which working memory is assessed in children, how verbal and visual working memory develop, how working memory difficulties manifest in children, and ways in which working memory can be improved.
Journal Article
The effects of alcohol on short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functioning tasks: A scoping review
Short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functions are related to short-term recall (short-term memory), information manipulation (working memory), and complex cognitive processing. Common tasks include serial recall, manipulation with recall (e.g., n-back), inhibitory control (e.g., Go/No-go), and planning (e.g., Tower of London). Acute alcohol consumption can result in poorer recall, altered spatial recognition, changes in attentional allocation, and reduced planning, task-switching, and cognitive flexibility. However, it is possible that the type of task used may result in equivocal outcomes. The purpose of this scoping review is to describe the different tasks used in the study of the effect of alcohol on short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functioning tasks. Nineteen studies were included with between-group, within-group repeated measures, and mixed factorial designs with various alcohol dosages. Findings of the included studies suggested that the impact of acute alcohol consumption on short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functioning tasks is equivocal. Discrepancies existed between visuospatial and verbal tasks and between array versus sequential recall tasks. Cognitive load may not be significantly affected but could be important in complex sequencing tasks. Deliberation times and response inhibition appear to be negatively affected, possibly due to thinking time rather than reduced performance. This suggests that most studies have not separated short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functions. These modalities may be differently affected by alcohol consumption. In general, further research using consistent, specific methods is required to enhance comparability of studies and clearly demarcate the effects of alcohol on these processes.
Journal Article
The effects of alcohol on short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functioning tasks: A scoping review
Short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functions are related to short-term recall (short-term memory), information manipulation (working memory), and complex cognitive processing. Common tasks include serial recall, manipulation with recall (e.g., n-back), inhibitory control (e.g., Go/No-go), and planning (e.g., Tower of London). Acute alcohol consumption can result in poorer recall, altered spatial recognition, changes in attentional allocation, and reduced planning, task-switching, and cognitive flexibility. However, it is possible that the type of task used may result in equivocal outcomes. The purpose of this scoping review is to describe the different tasks used in the study of the effect of alcohol on short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functioning tasks. Nineteen studies were included with between-group, within-group repeated measures, and mixed factorial designs with various alcohol dosages. Findings of the included studies suggested that the impact of acute alcohol consumption on short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functioning tasks is equivocal. Discrepancies existed between visuospatial and verbal tasks and between array versus sequential recall tasks. Cognitive load may not be significantly affected but could be important in complex sequencing tasks. Deliberation times and response inhibition appear to be negatively affected, possibly due to thinking time rather than reduced performance. This suggests that most studies have not separated short-term memory, working memory, and other executive functions. These modalities may be differently affected by alcohol consumption. In general, further research using consistent, specific methods is required to enhance comparability of studies and clearly demarcate the effects of alcohol on these processes.
Journal Article
A Feasibility Study on the Efficacy of Functional Near-Infrared Spectrometry (fNIRS) to Measure Prefrontal Activation in Paediatric HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with disturbed neurotransmission and aberrant cortical networks. Although advances in the imaging of brain microarchitecture following neuroHIV has added to our knowledge of structural and functional changes associated with HIV, no data exists on paediatric HIV using optical neuroimaging techniques. This study investigated the feasibility of optical neuroimaging in paediatric HIV using functional near-infrared spectrometry (fNIRS). We measured prefrontal brain activation while participants executed a sustained attention task. We specifically tested whether patients living with HIV and study controls could perform the study protocol and whether we could measure the typical fNIRS haemodynamic response associated with neuronal activity. Eighteen participants (10 HIV participants, mean age: 13.9, SD = 1.66 years; 8 controls, mean age: 14.8, SD = 1.28 years), matched for sex, grade, and socio-economic status, were included in the study. All participants completed the Stroop colour word test (SCWT). Oxygenated haemoglobin concentration and the deoxygenated haemoglobin signal were recorded from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the frontopolar area (FA) using fNIRS. The control group performed significantly better in terms of reaction time on the congruent and incongruent condition (congruent: t (16) = −3.36, p<0.05: incongruent: p <0.05). A pooled group analysis of the sample indicated significant activation in the DLPF and FA to the congruent condition of the SCWT (p<0.05). Although cortical activation was noted in the DLPF and the FA in each of the groups when analysed independently, this neural activation did not reach statistical significance. The results show promise that fNIRS techniques are feasible for assessing prefrontal cortical activity in paediatric HIV. Future studies should seek to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio and consider inter-individual variability when measuring prefrontal activation in paediatric samples.
Journal Article
The impact of aircraft noise exposure on South African children′s reading comprehension: The moderating effect of home language
Given the limited studies conducted within the African continent, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of chronic aircraft noise exposure and the moderating effect of home language on the learners′ reading comprehension. The sample comprised 437 (52%) senior primary learners exposed to high levels of aircraft noise (Experimental group) and 337 (48%) learners residing in a quieter area (Control group). Of these, 151 learners in the Experimental group spoke English as a first language (EFL) and 162 spoke English as a second language (ESL). In the Control group, the numbers were similarly divided (EFL n = 191; ESL n = 156). A univariate General Linear Model was used to investigate the effects of aircraft noise exposure and language on reading comprehension, while observing for the possible impact of intellectual ability, gender, and socioeconomic status on the results. A significant difference was observed between ESL and EFL learners in favor of the latter (F 1,419 = 21.95, P =.000). In addition a substantial and significant interaction effect was found between the experimental and control groups for the two language groups. For the EFL speakers there was a strong reduction in reading comprehension in the aircraft noise group. By contrast this difference was not significant for the ESL speakers. Implications of the findings and suggestions for further research are made in the article.
Journal Article
The Covid-19 resilience journey of vulnerable young South Africans
Resilience, the ability to adapt well to adversity, is a critical factor in the well-being and success of young individuals. This study explored the multifaceted nature of resilience among South African youth challenged by COVID-related stressors and structural disadvantage. Specifically, this paper reports a follow-up qualitative leg of a sequential mixed-method design. Thirty-eight young adults (average age 24), all of whom reported high risk exposure but low depression symptoms, took part in semi-structured interviews to learn more about their resilience journey. Qualitative content analysis was employed to identify prominent themes. The study’s findings emphasize the dynamic nature of youth resilience, with individuals being buoyed by social network support (especially family); personal agency, structural support, and resource combinations. The qualitative findings contribute to the growing attention to the need for comprehensive policies and programs that recognize and enhance multisystemic sources of support, enabling young individuals to navigate challenges and thrive in their transition into adulthood.
Journal Article
Low doses of alcohol may exert a differential effect on simple and complex working memory: A brief report on preliminary data
This study evaluated the effects of a low dose of alcohol on verbal and visuospatial simple and complex working memory (WM) using preliminary data on a small sample. A repeated measures design was used to assess working memory in 16 young adult males, both before and after consuming 13.6 grams of alcohol. Breath alcohol concentrations (BAC) were measured prior to each subtest. Previous research has focused on higher doses of alcohol, cross-sectional comparisons, and theoretical conceptualizations of working memory, often resulting in the use of a single measure of complex visuospatial working memory. This study employed a comprehensive battery of 12 measures of simple and complex, verbal, and visuospatial working memory, with breath alcohol concentration as a covariate to directly investigate its effect. Repeated measures analyses of (co)variance models indicated some improvement on most of the complex working memory tasks, particularly in the verbal domain. In contrast, performance on the verbal and visuospatial simple working memory tasks either deteriorated or showed no improvement with alcohol. These preliminary findings indicate that alcohol may exert a differential effect on WM, which could be dependent on task type, perceptual modality, and breath alcohol concentration level. However, further data on larger samples is required to draw more definitive conclusions.
Journal Article
Psychological Assessment in South Africa
This book provides an overview of the research related to psychological assessment across South Africa. The thirty-six chapters provide a combination of psychometric theory and practical assessment applications in order to combine the currently disparate research that has been conducted locally in this field. Existing South African texts on psychological assessment are predominantly academic textbooks that explain psychometric theory and provide brief descriptions of a few testing instruments. Psychological Assessment in South Africa provides in-depth coverage of a range of areas within the broad field of psychological assessment, including research conducted with various psychological instruments. The chapters critically interrogate the current Eurocentric and Western cultural hegemonic practices that dominate the field of psychological assessment. The book therefore has the potential to function both as an academic text for graduate students, as well as a specialist resource for professionals, including psychologists, psychometrists, remedial teachers and human resource practitioners.
eBook